Glynn Purnell addresses voucher refunds following restaurant closure

Chef Glynn Purnell has apologised to customers with gift vouchers who had been waiting for a response from the restaurant following its closure last month.

The chef thanked customers for their patience in a message posted on Instagram and said he would address each individual case personally.

Customers with gift vouchers had been left out of pocket after the sudden closure of Purnell’s, with many being referred to the liquidators.

Documents on Companies House recorded a sum of £39,375 which is owed to consumer creditors following the liquidation of the company.

In a post on Instagram, he said: “This has been an incredibly challenging time for me and my team on both a business and personal level, as I hope you can appreciate. This is a new experience for us all and this has meant that we have been unable to maintain the high level of service that we have always strived to provide.

“I would like to personally apologise to any guests who have been waiting for a response to their voucher enquiries. I am now in a position to address each individual case personally. I have a number of solutions and proposals in mind, and I look forward to discussing these with you to find a mutually agreeable conclusion.”

He asked voucher holders to send their details to a dedicated email address.

Purnell closed his Michelin-starred restaurant in Birmingham on 12 October after 17 years of trading.

Prior to opening the restaurant, he had trained under chefs such as Gordon Ramsay, Gary Rhodes and Claude Bosi. The two-time Great British Menu champion was also a former sous chef at Simpson’s restaurant in Birmingham, when it received a Michelin star.  

Commenting on the closure at the time, Purnell said was heartbroken to serve his final guest and that “Purnell’s has been my proudest moment”.

Purnell’s tapas bar Plates by Purnell’s on Edmund Street in Birmingham and the Mount by Glynn Purnell in Henley-in-Arden were unaffected by the closure and continue to operate as normal.