Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall to close River Cottage Kitchen restaurant in Bristol

Celebrity chef and campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall is to close his River Cottage Kitchen restaurant in Bristol after seven years of trading.

Fearnley-Whittingstall has put the closure down to “rising costs and challenging market conditions, as well as the size and location of the site”.

The River Cottage founder said: “Following a full review of our business we have made the difficult decision to cease trading at our Bristol site.

“We’ve had a wonderful seven years in Bristol and I am deeply saddened that we cannot find a way to continue trading here. I have a strong personal connection to Bristol, having lived here just around the corner from the restaurant for most of the last four years. I very much hope that River Cottage will return to the city in the future.

“I would like to thank our amazing team who have worked tirelessly over the years making our restaurant a fantastic place to eat and drink. A huge thanks also to all our wonderful customers who have supported us over the years, and our brilliant suppliers who have helped us to serve the finest produce of the region.”

The restaurant will continue trading until 27 March, with staff offered employment at other sites where possible.

The River Cottage group includes restaurants in Axminster and Winchester as well as a farm and cookery school at its headquarters in Devon, where there are plans to build a guest house and event spaces.

The chef closed a Plymouth site in 2017.

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