Gary Usher: ‘I’m watching businesses close in front of me’

Chef Gary Usher has urged the government for help amid a raft of prominent restaurant closures.

These included Simon Rimmer’s Greens in Didsbury, Tony Rodd’s Copper & Ink in Blackheath and James Allcock’s the Pig & Whistle in Beverley.

Usher said: “Simon Rimmer’s just announced he’s closing Greens after 33 fucking years. How can it not work after 33 years? You’ve got to ask yourself what has suddenly fucking changed.

“Restaurants are closing in numbers now. I’m not an economist or politician. I don’t know the ins and outs as I probably should, but it’s literally staring us in the face at the minute that restaurants aren’t fucking working and we need help from the government.”

He said closures have soared as a result of the “ridiculous rates” on Covid debt and the energy crisis, which at its peak forced Usher to pay “400 quid a day for 12 months for one rural pub”.

“I’m watching businesses close in front of me like you are. What are the high streets going to turn into? You are going to have two choices. You are going to choose between Wetherspoons and TGI Friday because they are the only businesses that can sustain this fucking shit we are going through,” he added.

Michel Roux Jr, who will be closing Le Gavroche this month after 56 years of trading, commented on X: “Sad day for hospitality, well said Gary.”

The Spring Budget has been scheduled for 6 March.