Thompson reveals why Chimneys suddenly toppled

The unexpected closure of the Chimneys restaurant in Bawtry near Doncaster, South Yorkshire, just two years after it was launched has left its head chef, Patrick Thompson, considering his future career options.

Thompson, a winner of the prestigious Roux Scholarship in 1998, learnt that the business was to close only two weeks before the restaurant's doors shut for the final time on 26 October.

According to Thompson, the decision to close the restaurant, owned by Alan and Linda Nettleship, came after three members of staff handed in their notice. "It was a very personal, individual restaurant. All the staff started together and the owners had grown together with us," he said.

"When some decided to move on and further their careers elsewhere it was decided that rather than change the personnel the restaurant would be closed.

"We were doing very well. They wanted to end on a high note."

Thompson, who before taking up his post at the Chimneys was head chef at the Falcon Inn at Bletsoe, Bedfordshire, won the Roux Scholarship in 1998 and as part of his prize for the competition worked a three-month stage at Alain Senderens's three-Michelin-starred Paris restaurant, Lucas Carton.

One of the options that Thompson is considering is to open a restaurant in North Yorkshire.

"I would like to open a place in this area. We have proved there is a market for the food we were producing," he said.