Celebrity Chef Explains Reasons Behind Wiltshire Restaurant Closure
Rick Stein, a renowned chef, presenter, and restaurateur, shared insights into the sudden closure of his only Wiltshire restaurant in an exclusive interview.
Background of the Wiltshire Restaurant
Rick Stein opened his first Wiltshire restaurant in Marlborough in 2016, marking his sixth restaurant across England. The venue featured some of his most famous dishes, like Dover sole à la meunière and turbot hollandaise.
Closure Announcement
On October 5, the restaurant unexpectedly closed its doors. Speaking with the Wiltshire Gazette and Herald about his new book and an upcoming TV project, Stein explained the reasons behind this decision.
Reasons for Closure
"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."
Impact on Business
Stein emphasized that closing the Marlborough site was not something he wanted, but was necessary due to economic pressures and a shrinking customer base.
Photo Caption
Celebrity chef Rick Stein outside his Marlborough restaurant (Image: Newsquest)
Author's summary: Rick Stein closed his Wiltshire restaurant due to challenging economic conditions and declining patronage, highlighting broader struggles in the hospitality industry.