Megan Gale’s restaurant Ascot Food and Wine targeted by thieves again

Megan Gale is ready to kiss goodbye to 2023 after a series of “heartbreaking” events at her Moonee Ponds restaurant, with her business partner saying this year had “kicked my ass”.

Shaun Hampson and Megan Gale’s restaurant has reportedly been broken into again.

Model Megan Gale and former Tigers player Shaun Hampson’s Moonee Ponds restaurant has been targeted by a thief yet again, almost six months after a fire forced the venue to close.

Employees caught a 26-year-old man allegedly rummaging through the Ascot Food and Wine restaurant – which is owned by the couple and chef David Stewart – on Friday about 8am.

Avondale Heights police were called to the venue where they found the Greensborough man had allegedly broken into the building through a window.

Officers searched the man and found coins, an iPad and beer in his possession.

He was charged with trespassing, criminal damage and theft and has been bailed to attend the Broadmeadows Magistrates’ Court on June 11.

Chef David Stewart shared in an Instagram story on Saturday his devastation after learning the restaurant had been broken into again.

“It breaks my heart to learn that we were robbed again,” he said.

“I can’t wait for this year to be finally over. Let’s go 2024.”

In another Instagram story, Stewart said “this year has kicked my ass” and gave his thanks to the “joy” his son brings him daily.

The robbery follows a heartbreaking year for the celebrity couple and chef, who made the difficult decision to close the restaurant’s doors after it was gutted by fire in July.

Ascot Food and Wine in Moonee Ponds was recently broken into again.

Chef David Stewart shared to his Instagram the restaurant has been broken into again.

A Fire Rescue Victoria spokesman said at the time a fire in the roof of the restaurant caused a major smoke log.

Fortunately, no one was inside the venue at the time the fire broke out.

In a post to Instagram, Hampson said: “it is with heavy hearts we wish to inform everyone that we will be closed until further notice.”

“Everyone is safe and a big shout out to the people that came to our aid,” he said.

Prior to this, thieves smashed a window to break into the restaurant, before stealing between $10-$15,000 worth of alcohol, $4000 in cash and also took the tip jar.

The first robbery left Stewart feeling “violated”.

“It hurts so much more, when we think that things are starting to get a bit better,” he said in February when the robbery happened.

Gale, Hampson and Stewart have been contacted for comment.