The Knightsbridge outpost of Nusret Gökçe, known to the world as ‘Salt Bae’, was targeted by activists from campaign group Animal Rebellion who called for the restaurant famous for its gold-covered steaks to serve sustainably-sourced ingredients.
The group recently occupied Gordon Ramsay’s three-Michelin-starred Chelsea restaurant, raising awareness about the environmental cost of the meat industry, and inequality in the UK.
Although Salt Bae’s restaurant has been described as “the worst in London”, the group did not target it for crimes against taste but rather because steak is a product of “environmental destruction and worker and animal exploitation”.
⚠️BREAKING! Supporters of Animal Rebellion have staged a sit-in at @nusr_et’s luxury restaurant in London.
Why?
Luxury dining represents exploitation, climate devastation and inequality.We don’t need gold-coated steaks, we need URGENT action – we need a #PlantBasedFuture. pic.twitter.com/EFJ1rlfOCp
— Animal Rebellion (@RebelsAnimal) December 3, 2022
Members of the group staged a sit-in and can be seen with their own green menus, similar to those they brought with them during the occupation of Ramsay’s restaurant. In video shared by the group, a member of staff is heard calmly explaining that it is “a booking only restaurant” and that someone else is due to arrive at the table.
However, when the protestors refused to leave, they were carried out by apron-clad staff (though Animal Rebellion claimed on Twitter that they were “dragged out by security”).
Supporters of Animal Rebellion are getting dragged out by security at @nusr_et ‘s restaurant in London!
The restaurant is famed for its steaks – products of environmental destruction and worker and animal exploitation.
This is not a sustainable food system.#PlantBasedFuture pic.twitter.com/n3SbNkBEpa
— Animal Rebellion (@RebelsAnimal) December 3, 2022
Salt Bae, who is currently in Qatar for the FIFA World Cup, is yet to respond to the protest.
On Saturday, 16 members of the group also occupied chef Simon Martin’s Mana, in Manchester. The police then arrived and arrested 14 of them. Martin said: “Whilst everyone is entitled to their opinions and beliefs, we are confused as to why the protestors chose to target a restaurant that prioritises sustainability and animal welfare, instead of a corporate fast food chain.”
There has also been backlash against Salt Bae for another reason: the prices. Recently, a £140,584 bill from one of his restaurants set social media ablaze.
This article was originally published by the drinks business and has been shared with permission.
