James Close to shut the Raby Hunt and join Rockliffe Hall

James Close is to shut his acclaimed Raby Hunt restaurant in County Durham after 14 years to take up a new position as culinary director at nearby Rockliffe Hall hotel.

The Raby Hunt, which was the first restaurant in the north-east to be awarded two Michelin stars, will hold its last service on 27 January.

Close is set to open a new restaurant at the five-AA-red-star Rockliffe Hall (pictured below) that will continue his global approach to gastronomy and feature a bespoke space to allow guest to interact with the chefs.

He will be joined at the project by his wife Maria, who will head up development, and head chef Adam Molloy.

The chef will also oversee and develop the wider culinary direction at Rockliffe Hall.

Close will join the hotel in February and his restaurant is expected to open later in 2024.

He said: “To join Rockliffe Hall as culinary director is an incredible opportunity and the perfect progression to take everything we have developed and achieved at the Raby Hunt to the next level.

“I’m always striving to do better and I’m looking forward to being part of an ambitious team that wants to lead the way in the culinary hotel space and modernise what a luxury country hotel offers its guests across gastronomy, service, and experiences.

“I’m very thankful to all the people who have believed in us and been involved in our journey so far – repeat diners, guests travelling from further afield, chefs, suppliers, and Michelin, which has played a big part in my career – and we look forward to our continued relationship with all of them.”

Rockliffe Hall’s general manager Shauna Robb said Close’s appointment marked “the beginning of an exciting new phase" in the hotel's ambition to become “a world-class culinary destination”.

Close has created a final menu for the Raby Hunt’s remaining services including favourite dishes from over the years, and he will sign each menu as a keepsake for guests.

The restaurant building, which is owned by his parents, will be put on the market by Christie & Co with regional director David Cash handling the sale.