London : Closings

Ambassade de l'Ile Shuts the Door

BuzzEditor — Fri, 07 Aug 2009 16:58:00 GMT

After just a year, South Kensington French Ambassade de l’Ile has closed. Details are still scarce, but there remains hope that the restaurant will return in the coming months, though rumored not with chef Jean-Christophe Ansanay-Alex at the helm.

House Folds

BuzzEditor — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 18:20:00 GMT

The beginning of May sees the end of an era as Soho's Richard Corrigan at Lindsay House closes. While the space has been a restaurant for the past 25 years, Richard Corrigan took over the 1740s townhouse in 1997. If you want one last transcendental experience, you have until May 2 (020-7439-0450).

Also, Battersea's Broome & Delancey is no longer. It has become a second location for The Establishment.

Aaya Carumba

BuzzEditor — Tue, 13 Jan 2009 19:31:00 GMT

One of the first closures of the new year is Gary Yau’s (Alan’s brother) Aaya in Soho. While the restaurant received positive reviews, it might have just been too good for the neighbourhood. Fingers crossed that it might open in a better location.

Mimmo d'Ischia Goes Silent

BuzzEditor — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 17:46:00 GMT

On November 12th, after nearly four decades and a legendary list of customers – Camilla, Fergie, Johnny Depp, Anthony Hopkins, Frank Sinatra, Elizabeth Taylor – Domenico "Mimmo" Mattera will retire, putting his London Italian Mimmo d'Ischia to rest. Restaurateur Gino Santini will take over, but no word yet as to when the restaurant will reopen or whether any of the original menu will be preserved.

Haiku's Last Word

BuzzEditor — Mon, 22 Sep 2008 22:02:00 GMT

Approximately a year after debuting, Bukhara Group's London outpost of Pan-Asian restaurant Haiku has closed. The original, located in Cape Town, remains open.

Ubon by Nobu Leaving the Thames Behind

BuzzEditor — Thu, 04 Sep 2008 18:01:00 GMT

If you want one last chance to dine at Nobu’s Canary Wharf offshoot Ubon by Nobu, you have until 26th September. After that the restaurant will be closed with plans to relocate, but there is no news yet as to where. It will be hard to match the gorgeous view across The Thames.

Closed: Tom's Place

BuzzEditor — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 19:53:00 GMT

After less than six months in business, Tom Aikens' modern Chelsea chippy, Tom's Place, has closed. Despite Aikens' reputation (he has two other Chelsea restaurants, Tom Aikens and Tom's Kitchen), the young toque had trouble persuading the local ladies who lunch to come in for expensive (and fattening) fish 'n' chips. The odour of chip fat reportedly was also an issue. No news yet on what will be done with the bi-level space.

Closed: La Noisette

BuzzEditor — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 19:11:00 GMT

Let's hope it wasn't a kitchen nightmare. La Noisette, the French Gordon Ramsay restaurant run by Bjorn van der Horst, has closed. Future plans for this unlucky Belgravia location are still up in the air. It had been the site of Pengelley's, and before that was the private club Monte's, where at times Jamie Oliver and Alain Ducasse each had a hand in the restaurant.

Is Gordon Ramsay Moving in on Zen Central Space?

BuzzEditor — Mon, 03 Dec 2007 20:05:00 GMT

Gordon Ramsay

While it seems that every potential restaurant site that pops up is one that Gordon Ramsay is considering for another new eatery, here is one that Buzz sources say is legit: Ramsay is looking to take over the Mayfair space formerly filled by 20-year-old Zen Central (calls to the restaurant for the past few weeks have led to a recorded message saying it is closed due to “technical problems”). However, because no papers have been signed yet, no details can be confirmed. We can, however, speculate that it would be a great venue for Angela Hartnett, as she and Ramsay are no longer returning to the newly refurbished Connaught.

Meanwhile, the recent unexpected sale of Marco Pierre White’s Quo Vadis to the founder of retail store Joseph seems to have been short-lived, as the Soho Italian has been sold once again. The new owners are Eddie and Sam Hart (Fino and Barrafina), who, in a surprise move, immediately closed Quo Vadis, leaving those who had reservations for the Christmas holiday period left out in the cold. No details yet on what the brothers have planned, but look for a spring relaunch.

And finally, in other closing news, Hampstead Chinese ZENW3 is now shuttered.

Closed: Blandford Street

BuzzEditor — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 21:42:00 GMT

Blandford Street closed after six years of serving Modern British and European cuisine in Marylebone. Opening in the space in late autumn will be L'Autre Pied, an offshoot of Pied à Terre serving Modern European cuisine.

Recent Closings

BuzzEditor — Wed, 29 Aug 2007 21:50:00 GMT

Recent restaurant closings include Arkansas Café, Bank Aldwych, Balham Kitchen & Bar, Deya, ECapital, Fiore, Mocotó and Sarkhel’s in Wimbledon.

Closed: Mocotó

BuzzEditor — Tue, 21 Aug 2007 15:43:00 GMT

Mocotó, the sexy Knightsbridge Brazilian with rustic decor featuring wooden floors and a ceiling composed of tree trunks, has closed after being open for only six months. It has been reported that the restaurant has gone into receivership despite its popularity.

Closed: Fortnum's Fountain (For Now), Brera and Spighetta

BuzzEditor — Fri, 11 May 2007 19:46:00 GMT

Fortnum's Fountain in Piccadilly has temporarily closed for refurbishment but is scheduled to reopen on August 6th.

Meanwhile, Brera, a Milanese with a lovely interior that just opened in December in Marylebone, has closed. Another Marylebone Italian, Spighetta, has also shuttered.

L’Estaminet and Zimzum Have Closed

BuzzEditor — Thu, 05 Apr 2007 13:51:00 GMT

L’Estaminet, a classic French restaurant in Covent Garden, and Zimzum, a Thai eatery in Fulham, have closed.

March Closings

BuzzEditor — Tue, 06 Mar 2007 17:01:00 GMT

Café Lazeez, the Old Brompton Rd. branch only of this erstwhile Indian trio, Globe, a Modern British in Swiss Cottage, and Spoon, Alain Ducasse's Spoon restaurant in the Sanderson, have closed.