'I'm a power drinker:' A night out with Sports Direct billionaire Mike Ashley in his own words

pulse

July 6, 2017 2:24 PM

Mike Ashley gave evidence on Thursday as part of a £15 million case against him. Here's what happened.

Sports Direct boss Mike Ashley.

LONDON — "We would drink the first pint in five to 10 minutes."

So began Sports Direct founder and billionaire Mike Ashley's description of a drunken night out in 2013 at which it is claimed he made a deal to pay former advisor Jeff Blue a performance-linked £15 million bonus.

The visit to the Horse & Groom pub in 2013 was part of Blue's efforts to land a new corporate broker for Sports Direct after Merrill Lynch resigned.

Sports Direct ended up appointing Espirito Santo, the investment bank whose representatives were present at the Horse & Groom.

Ashley said he resented having to attend the meeting, and punished Blue by making him keep up with the drinking in the early stages of the evening.

"Mr. Blue kept up for the first hour because I made him. I would definitely have made Jeff Blue keep up for making me be there," he said, adding he would have preferred former CEO Dave Forsey attended in his place. "He's a lightweight when it comes to drinking – that's a fact – and he wouldn't have been physically able to keep up" after the first hour.

Ashley said he could have had up to 10 pints of beer on the night, and possibly switched to Tom Collins cocktails at a different venue later in the evening.

"Things were said. I don't remember what I said," Ashley said. "It's banter, it's fun."

The case is expected to run until next Wednesday.

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