Myffy Rigby, editor of Swillhouse’s lifestyle publication Swill Mag, and the hospitality group’s general manager, Toby Hilton, have exited the company after revelations of sexual harassment, assault and drug use within its six high-profile Sydney bars and restaurants.

Rigby took to Instagram on Friday to announce she had resigned on September 7 and said she was shocked by The Sydney Morning Herald and Good Food reports claiming Swillhouse discriminated against women, failed to protect female staff from sexual harassment and assault, and pushed a woman out of the company after she was raped by a colleague in the bathroom of Restaurant Hubert.

“I gave notice the next day and removed myself from the workplace immediately and have not returned since,” Rigby wrote.

“I have been deeply shocked by the allegations. My heart goes out to the women who have been subjected to the behaviours described in the article, and I stand in solidarity with them.”

Rigby declined to comment further.

Last week, Swillhouse general manager Hilton also announced his resignation in a company-wide email, which described the hospitality company as “the best part of my life’s work”.

“The past few weeks have been very hard but an important lesson in realising that good actions or intent mean little if the experience is not consistent for all,” Hilton said.

“There is clearly a different reality between what we thought we had created versus what existed for some, for which I am truly sorry.”

Good Food understands from sources unable to comment publicly that there have been additional resignations from employees working at Swillhouse venues.

Rigby, who was previously national editor of the Good Food Guide, worked at the Swillhouse headquarters, a warehouse loft in Surry Hills. Three other former head office employees, who spoke on the condition of anonymity to protect their future employment, described it as a toxic environment tightly controlled by Swillhouse chief executive Anton Forte.

There is no suggestion of allegations of sexual harassment against Forte. Through his lawyers, he has denied any claim that he was responsible for the company’s culture and otherwise encouraged inappropriate conduct.

“Swillhouse has worked very hard in recent years to promote a diverse, inclusive, and safe workplace – an environment where bullying, harassment and discrimination will not be tolerated,” he said.

Rigby’s statement comes two days after the sixth issue of Swill Mag was released, which includes interviews with London-based restaurateur Jonny Gent (Sessions Art Club) and French chef and restaurateur Daniel Boulud, who owns seven restaurants in New York City, including the eponymous Daniel, which holds two Michelin stars.

She had edited the almost-quarterly magazine since its inception in February 2022.

Last week, the Good Food Guide dropped Swillhouse venues Le Foote (The Rocks), Restaurant Hubert (CBD), Alberto’s Lounge (Surry Hills), The Baxter Inn (CBD), Shady Pines (Darlinghurst) and The Caterpillar Club (CBD) from its annual publication, and widened its selection criteria to exclude hospitality venues known to allow or perpetuate assault.

Hilton will continue to work for Swillhouse until “the ship is steadied in the coming weeks” under the guidance of Justine Baker, the former chief executive of the Solotel hospitality group, who was appointed Swillhouse’s chief strategy officer on August 28.

According to a statement from Cato & Clive, the crisis communications firm hired by Swillhouse following reports by this masthead, Baker will work with the executive team to review business operations and structure and facilitate SafeWork NSW investigations.

SafeWork NSW has confirmed it has launched inquiries into Swillhouse’s operations. The government agency is responsible for ensuring workplaces meet their duties regarding workplace sexual harassment and alcohol and drug use. Staff can report workplace sexual assault to SafeWork NSW and the NSW Police.

In a text message sent to former employee Jenna Hemsworth, who went public with allegations she was sexually assaulted while working at Swillhouse, chief executive Forte said he intended to follow Baker’s recommendations for change.

“What we did, where we didn’t listen or act as we should have, was weak,” Forte said in the message, and invited Hemsworth to email Baker.

The other woman who came forward with allegations of sexual assault was former Swillhouse bartender Rachelle “Rocky” Hair, the first female to be employed behind the bar at Frankie’s and The Baxter Inn, who described herself as the “canary in the coal mine”.

“If [Swillhouse] had learnt and changed 10 years ago and the assaults and harassment had stopped with me, I would have let this go,” she said.

Hair said Forte had not reached out to her.