Soho House's Shoreditch Club Faces Council Probe Over Food Safety and Rodent Claims

A private members' club operated by Soho House in east London is under investigation by its local authority following allegations of unsafe food practices and a long-running rodent problem at the site.

Hackney Council confirmed it has launched a food safety and hygiene investigation into Shoreditch House after receiving a report about conditions at the venue. The probe follows complaints from a former employee who worked at the club earlier this year.

The allegations centre on claims that prepared food was being re-labelled so it could continue to be sold after its original date markings had passed, and that rats had been seen repeatedly at the premises. Soho House has disputed key elements of the account, describing the labelling issue as an isolated incident rather than an established practice.

According to the former staff member, Kamran Khan, concerns about the alleged re-labelling were first raised informally before he filed a formal complaint with the company. Khan, who was on probation at the time, says he was told during a probation meeting that he should continue the practice and that failing to act on his own initiative would be treated as a performance concern.

He told the BBC he felt he had no choice but to escalate the matter because of the numbers of children and pregnant women he saw dining at the club. In his account, he said he did not want to be held personally responsible if anyone became unwell as a result of the food being served. His formal complaint prompted an internal investigation by Soho House, which wrote to him on 24 August stating that there was evidence supporting his claim and that steps were being taken to address it.

Unsatisfied with the response, Khan says the practice continued despite those assurances. That led him to take his concerns to Hackney Council rather than pursue the matter further within the company. The council has since confirmed it received a report and has opened an investigation, though it has not indicated how long the inquiry might take or what enforcement action, if any, could follow.

Food safety rules in the UK require restaurants and catering businesses to label food with information such as best-before or use-by dates, and altering those labels to extend shelf life can breach hygiene regulations. Local authorities are responsible for inspecting food businesses and can issue improvement notices, hygiene rating downgrades or, in serious cases, prosecute operators.

Soho House has apologised for the incident, saying it does not reflect how its venues should be run and is not company policy. A spokesperson said an external, independent investigation and audit had been carried out, and stressed that delivering the highest standards of food safety for members and guests remains a priority. The company also rejected any link between Khan's complaints and the end of his employment, stating that his contract was terminated for reasons entirely unrelated to food labelling. Khan's employment ended in September, roughly two months after he first raised concerns.

The company did not respond to the allegation about rats at the venue. Khan claims rodents had been present for a significant period and that cleaning staff were instructed to check for rat droppings on a daily basis.

Shoreditch House is one of ten Soho House locations in London and sits in a converted corner building in the city's East End. The wider group, founded in London in 1995, now runs 46 clubs across Europe, North America and Asia alongside other upmarket hospitality ventures. Membership is priced from £291.67 per month, with a reduced rate of £204.17 for members under 27.

The brand has long been associated with celebrity culture and exclusivity, counting high-profile figures among its members. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are widely reported to have had their first date at one of its London venues, an association that has helped cement its reputation as a haunt for the famous.

Soho House listed on the New York Stock Exchange in 2021, but its share price fell sharply in subsequent years as the company struggled to turn a profit and faced criticism that it was losing the exclusivity that underpinned its appeal. It was taken private last year by a consortium of investors, with actor Ashton Kutcher joining the board as part of that deal.

The Hackney investigation adds to pressure on a business that has spent recent years trying to reassure investors and members about its direction. For a members' club whose proposition rests on offering a premium experience, allegations about food safety and pest control carry reputational risk beyond any regulatory penalty.

The case also highlights the role of whistleblowers in hospitality, where junior and probationary staff may be reluctant to report practices they believe are unsafe. Employment lawyers note that workers who raise food safety concerns can be protected under UK whistleblowing rules if the disclosure relates to a danger to health and safety, though proving that a dismissal was connected to such a complaint can be difficult.

For now, the council's inquiry will examine the specific claims made about Shoreditch House. Its findings could result in formal action or, if the concerns are not substantiated, closure of the matter without sanction. Soho House has said it will continue to cooperate, while maintaining that the labelling incident was not indicative of how its clubs operate.