Chef Gary Usher closes Burnt Truffle

Chef Gary Usher has closed Burnt Truffle in Wirral after ten years of trading.

 

The owner of Elite Bistros launched the restaurant in July 2015 following a successful crowdfunding campaign through Kickstarter, which received the backing of 891 people.

 

It is believed to be the UK’s first crowdfunded restaurant and was praised by The Observer’s Jay Rayner in 2016 as “the model of the neighbourhood bistro that punches well above its weight; the sort of place that you want on your doorstep, or at least that I want on mine”.

 

Burnt Truffle went onto winning two AA rosettes in 2019.

 

Announcing the news of the closure in a video on X, Usher said: “I’m sat here in Burnt Truffle and we are now closed, closed for good. We had a ten year lease and that’s come to an end. The honest truth is I’ve never been able to make it work here and I have been quite vocal about how difficult the government has made it. The best decision for us is to close, so we’re closing from today.”

 

The chef confirmed anyone with a voucher is able to use them at the group’s remaining restaurants.

 

“We’ve paid all our bills, so VAT is paid, all our suppliers are paid, rent is paid and we have unfortunately had to make people redundant with the closure of this business. Everybody has been paid. I have a civil loan which I took out in the pandemic, which I still have to pay and I will through the wider business,” he added.

 

Usher tried to remain optimistic and said the business would continue to innovate “through these tough times”.

 

“Thank you to everyone that came, thank you to the team. We’ve loved being in Heswell in Burnt Truffle, but that’s the end.”

 

Elite Bistros group continues to operate five restaurants, including Sticky Walnut in Hoole, Hispi in Didsbury, Wreckfish in Liverpool, Pinion in Prescot and Kala in Manchester.