‘Purnell’s has been my proudest moment’: Chef Glynn Purnell closes Birmingham restaurant

Chef Glynn Purnell has closed his flagship restaurant, the Michelin-starred Purnell’s in Birmingham, after 17 years of trading.

He opened Purnell’s in July 2007, which earned its Michelin star the following year, with the Guide describing the chef as a “leading light in Birmingham’s dining scene”.

Dishes from the tasting menu included the likes of Cornish monkfish, hijiki seaweed and apple; Creedy Carver duck, pineapple, sage, shiitake and ‘mint choccy chip’. 

Prior to opening the restaurant, Purnell had trained under chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Gary Rhodes and Claude Bosi.

The two-time Great British Menu champion was also a former sous chef at Simpson’s restaurant in Birmingham, when it received a Michelin star.  

Commenting on the closure, Purnell said: “Purnell’s has been my proudest moment, and I am heartbroken to say that after 17 years we have served our final guest. It fills my heart with pride to say that Purnell’s was a roaring success from day one. It won every accolade going, from a Michelin star just a year after opening, to the Craft Guild of Chefs New Restaurant of the Year Award, and the AA Restaurant of the Year Award.

“Purnell’s has been a place where I have had the privilege of working with some of the greatest talent I’ve ever known, and where I have trained people who are now working in some of the best restaurants in the world, from New York to Australia. However, the world doesn’t stand still. Things have moved on, and times have changed. In this current climate, no-one is bulletproof.”

He added: “I would like to thank everybody who has worked for me over the years. I have always had a team who are like family to me, who have worked with creativity, passion and enthusiasm to make Purnell’s the success it has been for 17 years. I’d also like to thank everybody who has ever eaten here and celebrated life here… and I’m thrilled that they chose Purnell’s for all those occasions.”

The chef confirmed his remaining businesses, tapas bar Plates by Purnell’s on Edmund Street in Birmingham and the Mount by Glynn Purnell in Henley-in-Arden, will continue to operate as normal.  

“I’m excited for the future and the next steps in my journey; this isn’t the last you’ve heard of the Yummy Brummie. I’m truly honoured to have played my part in the culinary history of this great city,” he added.

Independent restaurants that have closed in the past few months also include Simon Wood’s Wood Manchester, Nick Nairn’s Nairn’s in Bridge of Allan, Stirling, as well as Liz Cottam’s Home and Michael O’Hare’s Psycho Sandbar, both in Leeds.