Noel Edmonds has been accused of blindsiding 17 employees at his New Zealand winery when he gave them just one day’s notice of the venue’s winter closure.
The TV star, 75, moved to remote Ngatimoti in 2022 and opened the River Haven vineyard and Bugger Inn pub.
But The Sun report that boss Noel shocked his employees when he shut up shop and flew back to the UK for New Zealand’s winter months. The star was pictured on the Isle of Man on Tuesday.
Sacked staff have told The Sun: ‘Emotions are very high. It came right out of the blue. We had a meeting a week before where Noel asked for our ideas for winter.’
‘At 4pm on the Saturday, April 27, one of the managers took a group of us into a back room and said, “Tomorrow is your last day”. We never saw Noel.’
Noel Edmonds has been accused of blindsiding 17 employees at his New Zealand winery when he gave them just one day’s notice of the venue’s winter closure
The TV star, 75, moved to remote Ngatimoti in 2022 and opened the River Haven vineyard. As well as the winery, the TV star also has a shop, restaurant, pub, and café on a £15m estate
Another claimed they were even booted out of the venue’s pub when they drowned the sorrows with team drinks after the shock news.
They claimed: ‘I think we’d had one round when another of Noel’s bosses told us to go’.
‘The next day Noel appeared and was cracking jokes, but there was no apology. No one has been told anything about future work.’
A notice on the official website for the winery announces the winter closure and hints at the high emotions, stating: ‘There were a few misty eyes when we put up the Winter Closed sign at River Haven but we need the time to build on the success of the past 12 months.’
‘Yep closing for the winter months is all your fault! You’ve just made us too popular!!’
‘Our hospitality team will be getting a well-earned break but for the construction team there’s a frenetic few months ahead’.
It goes on to announce plans to extend the kitchen area during the closure ‘in addition to seasonal maintenance and servicing of equipment’.
Customers though seem just as baffled as staff by the decision to close, with one commenting on the winery’s Instagram page two weeks ago: ‘Very strange that you have closed for winter, cancelling all your mothers day booking and we had a few meals with you last year and we came for mid winter as well.
‘Very strange what about all your staff this decision seems very sudden ,might have to find somewhere else to go this mid winter.’
Sacked staff said: ‘Emotions are very high. It came right out of the blue…one of the managers took a group of us into a back room and said, “Tomorrow is your last day”‘
Noel first moved to New Zealand in 2019 with former make-up artist Liz Davies, launching a network of radio stations near Auckland before moving to Ngatimoti three years later
Last year River Haven were open during the winter, with the venue even promoting ‘Christmas in July’ events on their social media and installing a log burner at their cafe to ‘enjoy the stunning sunshine even when the temperature isn’t quite so friendly.’
MailOnline have contacted a representative for Noel for comment.
Noel first moved to New Zealand in 2019 with former make-up artist Liz Davies, launching a network of radio stations near Auckland before moving to Ngatimoti three years later.
As well as the winery, the TV star also has a shop, restaurant, pub, and café on a £15m estate – and in 2023, sparked a furious row with residents who accused him of ‘colonising’ their idyllic village.
The Deal Or No Deal star has also added winemaking to his repertoire at River Haven.
Noel settled in the Ngatimoti area and snapped up 12 properties worth almost £15m on 270 hectares of land.
A notice on the official website hints at the high emotions, stating: ‘There were a few misty eyes when we put up the Winter Closed sign’
The town is already well-known in New Zealand for its annual festival, which generally takes place in October and is attended by thousands of people.
In 2023, he sparked a furious row with residents who accused him of ‘colonising’ their idyllic village.
One said: ‘I feel like he’s a coloniser. He’s come in like he’s the lord of the manor.’
The television star has not helped matters by posing for photos on the estate holding a mug with the slogan ‘His Lordship’.
The resident added: “He’s got this attitude… about how he’s improved the place and made it amazing – it was already amazing.”
Regardless, his efforts have been fruitful, which is a far cry from his last major business venture.
Customers though seem just as baffled as staff by the decision to close, with one commenting on the winery’s Instagram page two weeks ago: ‘Very strange that you have closed for winter, cancelling all your mothers day booking’
In 2016, following the axing of Deal Or No Deal, Noel shocked the country when he launched a motivational phone service for pets.
Meanwhile, after jetting back to the UK, Noel was spotted wearing completely odd shoes during a trip to the Isle of Man, in a picture shared on social media on Tuesday.
The Deal Or No Deal star seemed completely unfazed by his choice of footwear as he proudly showed off his two different types of shoes.
Noel choose to wear light brown lace-up boots on his right foot and slip-on dark brown boots on his left foot.
Eagle-eyed fans couldn’t help but notice his peculiar fashion choice as he posed for a photo with the owners of Laxey Beach Stop Cafe.
Stunned fans flooded the shop’s Facebook with hilarious comments, writing: ‘Looks like he dressed in the dark’.
Meanwhile, after jetting back to the UK, Noel was spotted wearing completely odd shoes during a trip to the Isle of Man, in a picture shared on social media on Tuesday
The Deal Or No Deal star seemed completely unfazed by his choice of footwear as he proudly showed off his two different types of shoes
