Tom Aikens Restaurant to close
Tom Aikens Restaurant in Elystan Street in London's Chelsea is to close at the end of this month.
The restaurant has been open for a decade and in a statement Aikens said he wanted to relocate his flagship restaurant to a more central London location - believed to be around the West End - later this year, although no specific timetable has been given.
"Following the successful opening of Tom's Kitchen Canary Wharf and the first international outlet in Istanbul in 2013, Tom and his partners will continue to focus on the expansion of Tom's Kitchen throughout 2014 and beyond. They are delighted to announce that there will be another Tom's Kitchen opening at St. Katharine Docks this May," the statement said.
It also indicated that he was exploring other opportunities, including the USA and Asia, which will be announced later in 2014.
"Tom would like to thank all of the supporters of Tom Aikens Restaurant and is looking forward to welcoming you to his new venues in the near future," the statement added.
The restaurant has had a chequered history, having been put into administration and then acquired by a management buy-out (MBO) in 2008.
It originally opened in May 2003 and re-opened in Janaury 2012 following a refurbishment and a move to a more informal style. In October 2012, it was awarded one Michelin star and five AA rosettes.
It is not yet known what will now happen with the Elystan Street site. A spokesperson for Aikens said: "They are currently looking to assign the lease at Elystan Street. Nothing is confirmed yet."
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