Albert Adrià’s London restaurant to remain open despite elBarri closure

Spanish chef Albert Adrià’s London restaurant is to remain open despite the dissolution of his elBarri hospitality group.

Adrià opened Champagne and dessert-focused Cakes and Bubbles at Hotel Café Royal in 2018 after holding a residency there in 2016.

The chef won acclaim overseeing the three-Michelin-starred elBulli restaurant in Catalonia alongside his brother Ferran, before launching Barcelona restaurants Tickets, Hoja Santa, Pakta and Bodega 1900 under elBarri. The group was run in partnership with the Iglesias brothers, the owners of the Barcelona seafood restaurant Rías de Galicia.

But it was reported in the international press last week that elBarri has declared bankruptcy after the restaurants were forced to close during the pandemic.

A spokesperson for elBarri said: “The closure of elBarri will not affect any of Albert's other projects.

“In fact Cakes and Bubbles opened the terrace this last Monday and will remain open.”

The long-term future of Adrià and the Iglesias brothers' partnership remains uncertain, but it was reported his Barcelona restaurant Enigma is also unaffected, as it is run independently by the chef.