The restaurant says it will provide an update ‘as soon as the details are allowed to be made public’
A floating restaurant once hailed as London’s most brilliant new venue serving “amazing food” has suddenly closed without explanation.
Caravel on Regent’s Canal in Hoxton was a major hit when brothers Lorcan and Fin Spiteri opened its doors in 2022, bringing a mighty flux of food and cocktails on a beloved barge between Hoxton and Islington.
Caravel was even named ‘Best New London Restaurant’ that year by trade magazine Hot Dinners. Its menu featured the likes of Potato Rösti, Sour Cream and Caviar; Sesame Prawn Toast and Chili Jam; and Spinach and Ricotta Gnudi, with King Oyster Mushrooms and Sage.
Elsewhere, its desserts boasted Chocolate Soufflé Cake with Chocolate Sauce & Cream, and Caramelised Pear and Almond Tart.
But in a straightforward Instagram post on April 7, it stated: “Caravel and (sister restaurant) Studio Kitchen have been forced to close our doors with immediate effect. We will provide an update as soon as the details are allowed to be made public. Thank you and sorry.”
While no further information is available about the restaurant’s demise, the first signs of a change on the horizon came last November, when Caravel’s founders, the Spiteri brothers, announced their sudden departure from the venue.
In an online post, the pair wrote at the time: “Fin and I have left Caravel and Studio Kitchen this week after five years, due to circumstances out of our control.
“Caravel was a restaurant we built from the ground/water up, and it’s unfortunate we have to step away. Thank you to all of our talented staff and loyal customers that dined with us over the years, it’s been the best! We will be taking a short break whilst we prepare for the launch of our new project opening early 2026.”
The restaurant’s parent company, The Armada Group, told Restaurant magazine that the brothers’ immediate resignation had been unexpected. Although the change of leadership led to a temporary closure, the restaurant reopened later in November.
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