Gordon Ramsay Holdings to close restaurant at Claridge's

Gordon Ramsay Holdings (GRH) is to close its restaurant at Claridge's this summer after more than a decade.

The move comes after the celebrity chef's company couldn't agree a new long-term contract with owner the Maybourne Hotel Group. Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's will close on 30 June and the hotel will announce a new operator in due course.

A spokeswoman said that GRH is looking for potential new opportunities in Mayfair.

Ramsay first opened the restaurant in 2001 with Mark Sargeant in charge of the kitchen. It gained a Michelin star in 2003, which it retained until Sargeant left in 2009. GRH's previous 10-year contract ran out in 2011 and was subsequently extended by two one-year contracts.

Ramsay, who has run the former Michelin-starred restaurant at the five-star Mayfair hotel since 2001, has now ended all relationships with Maybourne. GRH previously operated four restaurants at Maybourne's London hotels, including Angela Hartnett at the Connaught and Pétrus and Boxwood Café at the Berkeley. None of the restaurants' contracts were renewed upon expiry and are now occupied by Hélène Darroze; Marcus Wareing and Pierre Koffmann respectively.

GRH said: "We have taken the decision to close Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's in June 2013 following a fantastic collaboration over the last 12 years. We'd like to thank all our guests for the amazing support they have given for over a decade but felt the time was right to move on to new opportunities and investments. The group continues to grow from strength to strength and as well as the opening of Union Street Café, in September, we are considering sites in Mayfair."

Thomas Kochs, general manager at Claridge's, added: "We thank Gordon and his team for the incredible dedication they have shown in making the restaurant such a success. We feel the time has come, however, for a new dining direction for Claridge's and we bid farewell to Gordon with best wishes."

The on-going and costly battle for control of the Maybourne Hotel Group is currently being fought out at the Court of Appeal with the billionaire Barclay brothers pitted against property developer Patrick McKillen.

The appeal, which started at the beginning of February, is expected to take around two months to be heard.

Gordon Ramsay and David Beckham restaurant Union Street Café to open in September >>

Barclay brothers battle for the Maybourne Hotel Group returns to court >>

Claridge's extends Gordon Ramsay restaurant contract by 12 months >>