UK Michelin Star restaurant closing for good after 32 years | UK | News
One of the UK’s most respected restaurants has announced its shock closure after more than three decades of business. Birmingham’s longest-established Michelin-starred restaurant, Simpsons, confirmed on Thursday it would close its doors following unsuccessful attempts to sell its iconic Edgbaston venue.
Owner Andreas Antona said he had no choice but to close the restaurant after three unsuccessful sales attempts. The restaurant, which has had a Michelin star since 1999, had been on the market for about 18 months after Antona decided to step back due to health problems. In a statement announcing the closure, Mr Antona said: “It is with a heavy heart that I have to announce that The Simpsons is closing after 32 years in business. I didn’t want it to end this way, but with the economy the way it is and all the time and money it takes to keep us going, it makes the most sense.” The famous restaurateur said he initially believed his Birmingham restaurant would easily find a buyer.
He added: “I launched The Simpsons a year and a half ago when ongoing health issues led me to re-evaluate where and how I should focus my time and energy.
“I had full confidence at the time that such an established and respected Birmingham restaurant would find a suitable buyer to take it into an exciting new era.
“But three sales attempts were later canceled and I was left with no choice but to close the doors.”
He said: “In my more than 50 years in the hospitality industry, I have never seen a more challenging economic environment for restaurants.”
The closure sent shockwaves through Birmingham’s food scene; chefs and diners described it as “a truly sad day for Birmingham hospitality” and “a huge loss for the Birmingham hospitality scene.”
Chef Matthew Cheal, who worked at The Simpsons for 17 years, paid tribute to the restaurant on Instagram.
He wrote: “After 17 years of working with Andreas, Luke and the team at The Simpsons, I can honestly say that this place was much more than a restaurant – it was a family, a place of passion, standards, creativity and unforgettable memories.
“Andreas and Luke have created something very special and the impact it has had on the industry and everyone who walks through the doors will never be forgotten.”
Simpsons first opened in 1993 before moving to the Georgian townhouse in Edgbaston in 2004.
The restaurant has become one of Birmingham’s most famous dining venues and was once named one of the “top 25 sexy restaurants in the UK” by The Times.
He added: “In a Grade II-listed Georgian townhouse on a leafy suburban street, the tastefully refined interior of this fine dining establishment provides a stylish Scandinavian setting for an intimate meal for two.”
