Celebrity Chef Explains Wiltshire Restaurant Closure
Renowned chef, author, and television presenter Rick Stein has spoken candidly about the unexpected closure of his Marlborough restaurant, the only one he operated in Wiltshire.
The restaurant, part of his well-known chain across the UK, opened in 2016 as his sixth establishment. It was celebrated for serving some of Stein’s signature seafood dishes such as Dover sole a la meunière and turbot hollandaise.
However, the restaurant abruptly closed its doors on October 5, citing financial and customer-related difficulties. In an interview with the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald, Stein explained that shutting down was a reluctant but necessary decision.
“We decided to close because there just wasn’t enough business,” he said. “We’re not going under, but we are having to restructure our business just because of the hard time we’re going through.”
“The whole hospitality industry is suffering. Personally, I think it’s a mixture of the government’s last budget and the quite grim economic time we have been going through,” Stein added.
Despite the setback, the chef remains optimistic, focusing on promoting his new book and an upcoming television project.
Author’s Summary
Rick Stein closed his Marlborough restaurant due to economic strain and fewer customers, reflecting larger challenges across the UK’s hospitality industry.