A CELEBRITY chef has closed down his iconic seaside restaurant after 16 years – and has “no plans to open any extra sooner or later”.
Mark Hix, 61, introduced that the West Dorset joint can be shutting for good on December 7.
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He opened the restaurant, Oyster & Fish Home in Lyme Regis, again in 2008 – sizzling off the heels of his 2007 victory on The Nice British Menu.
However it has been met with quite a few challenges over latest years – together with the Covid pandemic and a high-profile planning dispute with the native council.
Saying the information along with his 25,000 Instagram followers, Mark shared his unhappiness following the choice.
He stated: “It’s protected to say there have been some ups and downs through the years, significantly with the pandemic, in addition to growing challenges and pressures on the trade.
“I at all times suppose when you’re going to cease doing one thing, it is best to at all times exit on a excessive.
“And so, with heavy coronary heart, I’m saying the closure of The Oyster & Fish Home on December seventh this 12 months.”
Turning his consideration to clients, colleagues, and the individuals of Lyme Regis, he added: “For now, I needed to personally say an enormous thanks to everybody that has supported the enterprise through the years.
“We now have made some improbable and constant friendships, we’ve run numerous profitable occasions with unbelievable cooks together with Meals Rocks, we’ve raised enormous quantities for charity and labored with some very gifted and devoted employees members.
“Being a Dorset boy, it will at all times be my residence, and I’ll proceed to work in each Dorset and London.
“I’ve no plans to open any extra eating places sooner or later and I’ll actually miss my Lyme Regis restaurant, however I’ll cherish the reminiscences that I’ve made during the last 16 years.”
He then clarified that the restaurant – and its workforce – can be taken over by new house owners in the end, with updates to comply with subsequent week.
However the closure will not signify the chef’s exit from the trade, he insisted.
He shared that he would even be internet hosting Kitchen Tables occasions at his own residence in Charmouth, joking: “You may not be capable to dine at The Fish Home any extra, however you possibly can nonetheless come and dine with me at my home!”
Fellow trade professionals rushed to share their sympathies within the feedback.
Meals critic and son of Queen Camilla, Tom Parker-Bowles, wrote: “Convey on the subsequent one xxxx”.
In the meantime, baker Richard Bertinet stated: “Nicely….. I used to be solely cooking with you just a few weeks in the past… very particular place and also you’re a particular human being!
“Just one I do know who could make a 3 course diner with one apple! … Solely approach is up mon ami! A bientot!! Large hugs.”
It is not the primary time Mark has been compelled to shut the restaurant – which already shut down in 2020 because of the pandemic, earlier than being relaunched in a rebranded type.
Why celeb eating places go bust
By Paul Lochhead, Managing Director of Drinkstuff
THE latest wave of celeb chef restaurant closures can certainly be attributed to a number of elements, with the pandemic being a big one.
The hospitality trade, significantly high-end eating places, confronted unprecedented challenges in the course of the pandemic. Restrictions on eating, a shift to takeaways, and the necessity for social distancing considerably diminished footfall and income for these institutions.
Nonetheless, the affect goes past the pandemic. Excessive-end eating places function on a mannequin that requires substantial overheads—premium places, top-quality substances, and expert employees.
With the financial uncertainty and a change in shopper behaviour post-pandemic, there’s been a shift in eating preferences. Many diners at the moment are searching for extra informal, value-driven experiences, which places stress on the viability of luxurious eating.
Furthermore, for celeb cooks, these ventures are sometimes ardour tasks relatively than main income sources.
If a restaurant is not performing nicely, it is probably not definitely worth the continued funding, particularly when in comparison with the opposite earnings streams they’ve, corresponding to media appearances, books, and endorsements.
It then noticed a contemporary set of challenges as native councillors voted to take away £20,000 price of wood decking on the restaurant in 2023.
Hix had needed to make the non permanent construction everlasting and was left livid over the decking row, saying native officers have been “defying the need of the individuals.”
A petition to avoid wasting the decking acquired over 10,000 signatures however he was compelled to tear the construction out final 12 months.
The fuming chef warned dropping the surface seating would put a monetary pressure on his enterprise and will value jobs.
On the time he described it as “a tragic day” and “devastating”, including: “Thanks Lyme Regis City Councillors to your complete lack of help.
“Our deck shall be passed by Friday as requested. We fought the battle to the very finish, however sadly misplaced.”
Prospects additionally joined in on the wave of help after information broke of the restaurant’s eventual closure final week.
Learn extra on the Scottish Solar
One stated: “Gutting. That restaurant put Lyme again on the map.
“It was the place my prolonged household all selected to have fun the massive occasions: 16ths, 18ths, 30ths, 40ths, fiftieth, 80ths. Shall be really missed.”
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