‘I cannot see a viable way forward’: Josh Katz closes Carmel Fitzrovia

Josh Katz’s Carmel restaurant in London’s Fitzrovia has closed after less than a year of trading.

Katz, a former chef at Ottolenghi and Galvin Bistrot de Luxe, founded London restaurants Berber & Q, Shawarma Bar and Carmel with his brother Paul and operations director and wine buyer Mattia Bianchi.

The group opened the second outpost of Eastern Mediterranean restaurant Carmel in Fitzrovia last April.

However, Josh confirmed the 95-cover restaurant, developed in partnership with commercial property company Woven Spaces, has now closed.

He told The Caterer: “Last year we set out on an ambitious plan to open our first restaurant in central London, alongside a truly talented team who I can’t thank enough for their hard work and dedication.

“Sadly, Mattia, Paul and I cannot see a viable way forward in Fitzrovia and have taken the very difficult decision to close Carmel Fitzrovia with immediate effect.”

The trio launched live fire restaurant Berber & Q in Haggerston in 2015 and rotisserie and mezze venue Shawarma Bar in Exmouth Market in 2016. The first Carmel restaurant opened in Queen’s Park in 2021 serving a selection of Middle Eastern and North African dishes and a list of almost 60 wines.

Carmel Fitzrovia opened in Market Place near London’s Oxford Street last year. It was overseen by executive chef Jeremy Borrow and served the likes of monkfish crudo with sheep’s yoghurt as well as tomatoes and seafood papardelle with mussels, squid, hake and saffron.