A British Michelin-starred celebrity chef was attacked after allegedly defending his teenage daughter from thugs in a bar in the Philippines' Cebu province on December 23.

Jason Atherton from Worksop, Nottinghamshire, England, was dining at the F Cafe and Bar with his family when the daughter complained that a group of men harassed her outside the restroom.

The award-winning chef, 51, reportedly confronted them and asked them to apologise. But a confrontation ensued, which turned violent in the early hours of the morning at around 1 am local time.

Shocking footage shows the mass brawl with fists being thrown and people being stomped on the ground.

Another clip showing the chaotic scene inside the resto-bar as security held the two fighting parties apart was also taken by one of the customers.

Jason can be seen in the same grey trousers and white shirt he was wearing while being recorded during the argument outside.

He was pictured at work the next day sporting two black eyes and bruising around his nose.

In a video taken by an onlooker, Jason said: "I want an apology…. If you could have sex with her in the toilet. She's 17, she's 17 years old".

Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia has slammed the bar. She claimed "they all ganged up on Jason, including F Bar's people".

The politician added: "Worse, F Bar's bouncers held him down so Jason couldn't fight back. The lady manager joined in the melee, even providing a bottle to beat him further, the whole time condemning him and all foreigners as troublemakers".

Jason, who is married to Irha Atherton, a Filipino national, met with Governor Gwendolyn and they took a selfie showing his injuries and bruises around the eyes.

The governor added that the "internationally-acclaimed English chef" did not deserve the treatment.

She said: "These guys were harassing Jason's daughter, while she was waiting in line for the restroom. Jason asked them to apologize, as any father who loves his daughter would. Tonight, I told Jason, ‘I'm so sorry for what happened to you, Jason. I hope this will not change your fondness for Cebu. He answered, ‘Oh no! It could have happened anywhere in the world. In London or any other place. This gracious, gifted man certainly did not deserve the shameful treatment he received".

Following the local official's condemnation, the bar released a statement claiming that their "CCTV footage showed that it was Chef Atherton who initiated the attack against another group".

The statement said: "Security personnel noticed a commotion inside coming from certain customers that included Mr. Aterton. A melee ensued and the natural reaction of security was to go between the parties to ensure that nobody got hurt and to pacify them. The manager, who just had an eye operation, also went to ensure that security was on top of the situation. CCTV footage showed that it was Mr. Atherton who initiated the attack against another group".

It also stated: "Everything happened so fast but fortunately the people were eventually pacified. We were informed that they went to the police and the district officials and settled everything among themselves. We were informed that the matter was closed. While we try to ensure that everybody feels good in our establishments, we have no control over the actions of others. We deeply regret what happened to Mr. Aterton and the other parties involved in the fracas".

Cebu City Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia said in a speech on December 28: "This is disturbing, and it concerns not only the province of Cebu but most especially, the City of Cebu since it's in our jurisdiction.
This representation feels that something has to be done about it not only as a public official but also as a father who also has a daughter".

No formal complaints have reportedly been filed before the police.

A spokesman for the Mabolo district police station said today: "We were only called for the trouble that happened that night. No complaints have been filed yet as of now".

A British Michelin-starred celebrity chef was attacked after allegedly defending his teenage daughter from thugs in a bar in the Philippines.

Jason Atherton from Worksop, Notts., was dining at the F Cafe and Bar with his family when the daughter complained that a group of men harassed her outside the restroom in Cebu province on December 23 evening.

The award-winning chef, 51, reportedly confronted them and asked them to apologise. But a confrontation ensued, which turned violent in the early hours of the morning at around 1am local time.

Shocking footage shows the mass brawl with fists being thrown and people being stomped on the ground.

Another clip showing the chaotic scene inside the resto-bar as security held the two fighting parties apart was also taken by one of the customers.

Jason can be seen in the same grey trousers and white shirt he was wearing while being recorded during the argument outside.

He was pictured at work the next day sporting two black eyes and bruising around his nose.

In a video taken by an onlooker, Jason said: ‘I want an apology…. If you could have sex with her in the toilet. She's 17, she's 17-years-old.'

Cebu governor Gwendolyn Garcia has slammed the bar. She claimed ‘they all ganged up on Jason, including F Bar's people'.

The politician added: ‘Worse, F Bar's bouncers held him down so Jason couldn't fight back.

‘The lady manager joined in the melee, even providing a bottle to beat him further, the whole time condemning him and all foreigners as troublemakers.'

Jason, who is married to a Filipina Irha Atherton, met with Governor Gwendolyn where they took a selfie showing his injuries and bruises around the eyes.

The governor added that the ‘internationally-acclaimed English chef' did not deserve the treatment.

She said: 'These guys were harassing Jason's daughter, while she was waiting in line for the restroom. Jason asked them to apologize, as any father who loves his daughter would.

‘Tonight, I told Jason, ‘I'm so sorry for what happened to you, Jason. I hope this will not change your fondness for Cebu.

‘He answered, ‘Oh no! It could have happened anywhere in the world. In London or any other place'.

‘This gracious, gifted man certainly did not deserve the shameful treatment he received.'

Following the local official's condemnation, the bar released a statement claiming that their ‘CCTV footage showed that it was Chef Atherton who initiated the attack against other group'.

The statement said: 'Security personnel noticed a commotion inside coming from certain customers that included Mr Aterton. A melee ensued and the natural reaction of security was to go between the parties to ensure that nobody got hurt and to pacify them.

'The manager, who just had an eye operation, also went to ensure that security was on top of the situation. CCTV footage showed that it was Mr Atherton who initiated the attack against other group.

'Everything happened so fast but fortunately the people were eventually pacified. We were the informed that they went to the police and the district officials and settled everything among themselves. We were informed that the matter was closed.

'While we try to ensure that everybody feels good in our establishments, we have no control over the actions of others. We deeply regret what happened to Mr Aterton and the other parties involved in the fracas.'

Cebu City Vice Mayor Raymond Alvin Garcia said in a speech on December 28: ‘This is disturbing, and it concerns not only the province of Cebu but most especially, the City of Cebu since it's in our jurisdiction.

‘This representation feels that something has to be done about it not only as a public official but also as a father who also has a daughter.'

No formal complaints have reportedly been filed before the police.

It is not known if the alleged verbal 'harassment' of Jason's daughter while she was waiting for the toilet would be an offence in the Philippines or in the UK.

A spokesman for the Mabolo district police station said today: 'We were only called for the trouble that happened that night. No complaints have been filed yet as of now.'