Restaurant closures in Britain: A monthly updated list

In the wake of soaring energy prices, staff shortages, post-Covid debt and the cost of living crisis, a perfect storm is rocking the hospitality industry.

Across the UK, many restaurants have had no choice but to close their shutters for the last time. Beloved neighbourhood spots like The Laughing Heart, and Peg in Hackney, London, have cited staff shortages and a ‘sad and gruesome’ list of factors that have forced them to rethink, despite both bustling with regulars until the end.

Here, we will publish a rolling list of restaurant closures across the country, which will be updated monthly. It is a difficult undertaking, but we hope it also proves to be a useful one. Where restaurants have provided a reason, we’ve listed it. Please get in touch with us at [email protected] with news.

London

• Pastaio, White City – closed 2 August
• Barboun & Tavla, Shoreditch – closed 6 August
• The Other Naughty Piglet, Victoria – closed 13 August – ‘Covid impact’
• MEATliquor, Clapham Town – closed 29 August – ‘the site didn’t set the world on fire’
• Fiend, Notting Hill – closed September – ‘it has been an incredibly challenging year’
• Taco Queen, Peckham – closed 15 September – ‘time for a new chapter’
• The Glasshouse, Kew – closed 17 September
• Mr Ji, Soho – closed 21 September – ‘reduce the burden on staffing ahead of its opening in Camden Town’
• Goddard & Gibbs, Shoreditch – closed 30 September – ‘allow the space to be used for events’
• Homeslice, Shoreditch – closed October
• Homeslice, Fitzrovia – closed October
• Jen Cafe, Chinatown – closed October
• Warehouse at the Conduit, Covent Garden – closed October
• Le Boudin Blanc, Shepherd Market – closed 1 October – ‘move on and see what the rest of the world has to offer’
• Lighthaus Cafe, Leyton Industrial Village – closed 3 October – ‘can no longer fight soaring costs’
• Simpsons Tavern, Bank – closed 15 October – ‘forced to close through the cynical actions of our landlord and their agents: Tavor Holdings Ltd, Hartnell Taylor Cook Ltd & Memery Crystal’
• Chishuru, Brixton – closed 29 October – ‘We will have a new home in 2023’
• Wander, Stoke Newington – closed 12 November – ‘want to be able to spend more time at home.’
• MEATliquor, Boxpark Croydon – closed 17 November – ‘ended their tenancy agreement as per their break clause’
• Flor, Bermondsey – closed 26 November
• Red Cup Cafe, Harrow – closed 29 November – ‘We have been hammered with a rental increase on a new lease extension, which is completely unaffordable for us in the current climate. A new energy contract early next year (on just electricity) would also add another £15,000 per year on our costs.’

North East

• The George, Darlington – closed 28 August – ‘it wasn’t financially viable’
• Frost Burgers, Liverpool – closed 11 September – ‘insane rise in costs and VAT’
• Fusion Bar & Restaurant, Lancaster – closed 18 September – ‘due to the current cost of living’
• Bill’s, Durham – closed 24 September

North West

• The Copper Room, Manchester – closed August
• The Baltic Social, Liverpool – closed 23 August – ‘astronomical increases in energy, food and drink prices’
• Peck & Yard, Manchester – closed 28 August – ‘we did our best but unfortunately it wasn’t enough’
• BräuHaus, Manchester – closed 9 November – ‘constant issues we’ve had with our landlord’
• Maray Allerton Road, Liverpool – closed 14 November – ‘time has come to put our resources where they are needed the most, which in this case is our Bold Street and Albert Dock restaurants in Liverpool city centre, and our recently opened site in Manchester’

Scotland

• Balbir, Glasgow – closed 28 August
• The Minishant, Ayrshire – closed 29 August – ‘extremely difficult few years’
• Firebrick Brasserie, Lauder – closed 29 August – ‘huge increase in our costs’
• Pomegranate, Edinburgh – closed 30 August – ‘last few difficult years’
• The Rockpool, Ayr – closed 8 September – ‘current financial situation’

Yorkshire

• Santoni, Keighley – closed 20 August – ‘the main factor is what’s coming ahead’
• Sant’Angelo, Wetherby – closed 25 September – ‘no time has been as hostile to the survival of small businesses as now’
• Catsu, Doncaster – closed 30 September – ‘significantly increased rent’

East Midlands

• Browns, Derbyshire – closed 4 September – ‘family priorities’

West Midlands

• Over Easy, Birmingham – closed 2 September
• Gallery 36, Malvern – closed 3 September – ‘current economic climate’
• Pascal at The Vicarage, Staffordshire – closed 6 September – ‘owners retiring’
• Pulperia, Birmingham – closed 30 September – ‘With the current climate we simply cannot operate at the standard we want without outpricing our customers’
• The Bowl Full, Lincolnshire – closed 1 October – ‘family priorities’

East of England

• Galt View, Cambridge – closed 21 August – ‘impact of Covid’
• The Great House, Suffolk – closing 25 September – ‘staffing shortages’

Wales

• Monusk, Newport – closed 22 August
• La Cuina, Cardiff – closed 3 September – ‘impact of Brexit’
• Got No Beef, Cardiff – closed 11 September – ‘devastating effects of the current economic/energy crises’
• Bistrot Pierre, Newport – closed 11 September
• The Haven Brasserie, Pembrokeshire – closed 30 September – ‘rising costs, staffing shortages, and unpredictable future’
• The Lazy Leek, Cardiff – closed 8 October – ‘the troubles that hospitality are facing, rising costs, staffing issues’

South East

• Thai Lemongrass, Kent – closed 26 August – ‘cost of living crisis’
• Loch Fyne, Wokingham – closed 28 August
• Whites Seafood & Steak Bar, Hastings – closed 18 September – ‘more cost effective to shut the restaurant now than to keep trading over the harsh winter period’
• The Black Rat, Hampshire – closed 30 September
• The Curlew, Bodiam – closed 2 November – ‘The current climate and substantially increased energy bills have forced our hand to make this decision’
• Barletta, Margate – closed 9 December – ‘The impact of fraudulent activity on our bank account, compounded by the increase in energy bills and cost of living crisis has made it impossible for us to carry on.’

South West

• Meat59, Exeter – closed 11 August – ‘Covid impact and rising costs’
• The Daffodil, Cheltenham – closed 12 August – ‘Covid and staffing shortages’
• Restaurant Renaissant, Newbury – closed September
• Ma Cuisine, Taunton – closed 3 September – ‘spiralling energy costs and food costs’
• Thomas Carr 1873, Ilfracombe – closed 31 October

Not all hospitality news is sombre, and there is much to celebrate, too. For news of restaurant openings and more, subscribe to our weekly Bulletin, and read our website editorial.