Running a restaurant in London has always been a treacherous game, but the impact of Covid and Brexit has left life particularly icey for restaurateurs today. Increasing produce costs, wages, energy bills and more leave even the best restaurants on a potential knife edge, balancing weighty overheads whilst they feed us.
It’s no wonder, then, that so many of London’s restaurants have closed in 2024. We’re not just talking small independents either – we’ve had to wave goodbye to some titanic restaurants in the last year or two. Le Gavroche, for example, is a restaurant we thought would never close, but after 56 era-defining years, chef patron Michel Roux Jr decided to shut the doors for good in January 2024. So too has Pollen Street Social, with Jason Atherton citing ‘unsustainably high costs’ as the reason.
It’s not easy keeping track of all the restaurant movement in the capital, so we’ve devised a couple of lists for you to keep track of. We’ll be tracking all the big restaurant closures in London right here, month-by-month, but you can also keep an eye on the best new restaurants in London over here, where you can find all our latest reviews of brand new openings, as well as previews of exciting restaurants that are coming later in the year.
Not sure if your favourite local restaurant has closed? Google is often a good bet – Google uses an AI system called Duplex to contact restaurants regularly via phone, confirming opening hours and, naturally, if the business is still operating. As a result, Google Maps is often the first place to find out if a restaurant has shut down. You can also check a restaurant’s social media accounts, as many will post a thank you to their customers before closing.
May 2024
Fish Game, Canary Wharf
Roberto Costa’s fish and game-focused sister site to Macellaio RC closed after less than a year.
Rum Kitchen, Soho, Shoreditch and Brixton
Caribbean restaurant and bar group Rum Kitchen quietly shut down all its restaurants.
Supa Ya Ramen, Dalston and Peckham
A beloved ramen restaurant with a big cult following, we were sad to wave goodbye to Luke Findlay’s excellent Supa Ya Ramen.
Wander, Stoke Newington
After various on and off battles with the Home Office over the years, Alexis Noble decided to close much-loved Antipodean restaurant Wander in Stoke Newington on her own terms before going travelling.
April 2024
Turnips, Borough
A licensing dispute with Borough Market called time on the excellent Turnips restaurant attached to the market greengrocer. A sad loss.
Mere, Fitzrovia
Monica Galetti called time on her restaurant in April, after seven successful years.
Galvin at Windows, Mayfair
Notable as one of London’s most famous restaurants with a view, Galvin at Windows is no more. No doubt someone new will move into this desirable high-rise space.
Park Row, Soho
This massive DC Comics-inspired restaurant was one of London’s most unique. Now closed but it may just be moving to a new site – watch this space.
Harvest, Kensal Rise
Jesse Dunford-Wood closed his latest restaurant after just a year, citing lack of bookings. Parlour in Regent Street, and Six Portland Road in Holland Park remain open.
March 2024
Grassfed, Camden
Paul Foster’s first London venture was open for about nine months in total, despite positive reviews. It didn’t give a reason for the closure.
Delhi Grill, Islington
A Chapel Market favourite, Delhi Grill announced its closure via Instagram, saying: ‘It has been an incredible journey and we couldn’t have done it without the support from our loyal customers and our team.’
The Chelsea Pig, Chelsea
This gastropub just off the King’s Road closed in March. It has since been taken over by the Gladwin Brothers and renamed The Pig’s Ear.
February 2024
Hicce Hart, Islington
The sister gastropub to Hicce also closed in February – a knock-on effect of the sad closure of Hicce and Lacey’s subsequent decision to take some time out of the kitchen. The pizza restaurant has also closed.
20 Berkeley, Mayfair
Creative Restaurant Group called time on 20 Berkeley, deciding to change direction and rebrand the space as a Japanese restaurant called NIJU.
The Fat Badger, Richmond
The Gladwin Brothers closed Richmond restaurant The Fat Badger, and the site has since been taken over by pasta chain Noci.
PLU, St John’s Wood
Elliot Moss’s distinctive fine dining restaurant closed in February – Moss cited difficult trading conditions and a lack of recognition from Michelin as reasoning.
Prairie Fire, White City
This well-liked barbecue joint in the Wood Lane Arches by Westfield White City sadly closed in February.
January 2024
Bossa, Marylebone
This Brazilian restaurant promised much, with two Michelin-starred chef Alberto Landgraf attached to the project, but it closed after less than a year.
Le Gavroche, Mayfair
The legendary Roux restaurant has closed its doors for good after many decades, signalling the end of an era.
The Rosarium, Waterloo
This restaurant in Waterloo’s ‘The Sidings’ development has closed, alongside an Alice in Wonderland-themed cocktail bar.
Buvette, Notting Hill
French restaurant Buvette opened in late 2020 but closed quietly in January 2024.
Rika Moon, Notting Hill
You couldn’t miss this glamorous Japanese fusion restaurant on Kensington Park Road. No doubt something else will move into this nice Notting Hill corner site.
Maene, Shoreditch
Much was expected from Maene – a new project from the team behind Townsend in Whitechapel – but it closed after less than a year.
Frenchie, Covent Garden
Greg Marchand’s lovely French restaurant was a great loss to Covent Garden and London. Thankfully his exceptional Paris restaurants are still open.
Copper and Ink, Blackheath
MasterChef finalist Tony Rodd closed his Blackheath restaurant in January and has since moved to Margate, where he has opened Pomus.
Mr White’s, Leicester Square
Marco Pierre White’s enormous Mr White’s restaurant on Leicester Square was one of the first restaurants to shut up shop in 2024.
December 2023
Saltie Girl, Mayfair
The well-known east coast USA seafood restaurant reviewed well on arrival in London but was forced to close in 2023.
Hicce, King’s Cross
An unfortunate subletting situation forced Pip Lacey to close the excellent Hicce – one of the signature original openings in Coal Drop’s Yard.
Marcus, Knightsbridge
Marcus Wareing’s famous restaurant at The Berkeley – once the holder of two Michelin stars – closed. Wareing has more projects planned for 2024 to take the space in a new direction.
Birch, Selsdon and Cheshunt
Elodie and Zebra Riding Club (plus the other restaurants at both locations) closed when boutique hoteliers Birch went into administration in late 2023.
Has your favourite restaurant closed? Find a new favourite in our list of the 100 best restaurants in London, which features restaurants of all styles and cuisines from all over the capital.
