Ibrox and The Barras to feature in final of Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars

Tonight’s semi-final of the second series of Gordon Ramsay’s Future Food Stars set the stage for a homecoming of sorts for the celebrity chef. The show sees 12 contestants competing for his £150,000 investment, now whittled down to the last three:

• Amy - Owner of Blondie Bakery which produces a range of blondie-based products for individuals and wholesale
• Sam - Owner of seafood boil chain Hot N Juicy Shrimp LDN, with takeaways in Bethnal Green and Woodgreen
• Andy - Owns Drops Of Heal, a CBD oil brand and hopes to help people change the way they take CBD and exploit its benefits for boosting mental health

The final moments of the seventh episode revealed the last challenges for the contestants will take place in Glasgow with locations including Ibrox stadium and Barras Art and Design, a music venue and gastropub near the Gallowgate. A shot broadcast at the end of the episode shows guests arriving for a showcase of the contestants’ business ideas, in a similar finale to the previous series.

Owner Norrie Innes tells me: “Ibrox and The Barras! It was an interesting Glasgow experience for Mr Ramsay. Team BAaD and The Barras made him most welcome and said Gordon Ramsay and his crew were great to work with. Interesting also that Delia Smith was at Celtic Park with a delegation from Norwich City on the very same day. Lovely lady!”

We previously reported that Gordon Ramsay visited the Rangers training ground to meet players while filming the episode and announced this month that he has devised a new menu for a dedicated Rangers hospitality lounge, which will be in place for next season.

The three finalists will complete tasks in Glasgow before appearing before an invited audience of local hospitality figures and Gordon Ramsay to present their business ideas as the competition reaches a crescendo.

Gary Townsend - head chef of One Devonshire Gardens where Ramsay won a Michelin Star in 2002 - arrived at The Barras before the final presentation alongside current Glasgow Michelin star chef Graeme Cheevers, Gillian and Nichola Reith of Three Sisters Bake, Peter McKenna of The Gannet, Colin Campbell of Sylvan, Paul and Chris Charalambous of Chapter One, Joanna Nethery of Five March, Rory McGinley of Two Fat Ladies at The Buttery, Graham Suttle of The Finnieston and Rachel Suttle of Hidden Lane Brewery.

Filmed on a match day Saturday in the East End against the backdrop of lively weekend markets and neighbouring bar The Squirrel, Gordon joked about the Celtic score when speaking to the assembled crowd before the final episode got underway and said The Barras had special memories for him of getting fish and chips with his dad when he was a child.

Production for the final task was set up outside BAaD after filming for the semi-final in Brighton was completed.

While in Glasgow the bombastic, award-winning chef dined at Kimpton Blythswood Square Hotel and was spotted having a meal in Ox and Finch in the West End.

Gordon Ramsay’s Studio Ramsay Global opened a hub in Glasgow to join offices in London and Los Angeles to produce the second series of the BBC One format. Local researchers, development executives and producers shaped the recommisioned food and drink show in which the celebrity chef travels the country with his chosen hospitality entrepreneurs.

Ramsay, who was born in Johnstone, said the move to Glasgow was a “dream come true.”

“There is so much opportunity to do develop some fantastic new program ideas with a great new team in this super creative city, myself and the team are excited to move in and get going,” he added.