Dom Robinson to close the Blackbird to relaunch site as fine dining restaurant

Chef Dom Robinson is to close his Michelin-starred pub the Blackbird to reopen it as a fine dining restaurant – but the venue will lose its star as a result.

Robinson plans to reopen the pub in Bagnor, Berkshire, on 22 September as Renaissant, the adjective of 'renaissance', which means to be reborn.

First reported by the Newbury Weekly News, Robinson told the paper: “It just felt like the right time for a change and the right thing for me…

“It will be a fresh start. I’ve spoken to Michelin about it and they have been great. I will lose the star, which I don’t have a problem with. It means I get to try and win it back again, and that’s a great challenge.”

During lockdown, the chef has been serving sourdough pizzas under the name Pizza Paloma, a business he hopes to continue.

Robinson acquired the pub with his wife Marliz in August 2017 and opened it two months later, serving British produce cooked using French techniques. It was awarded a Michelin star in the 2019 edition of the guide.