Chef Jason Atherton’s Japanese Izakaya Is Staying in Clerkenwell After All

Last August, Eater reported that Jason Atherton’s Japanese “izakaya,” Sosharu in Farringdon, had been put up for sale. This week, it has been confirmed that the restaurant is no longer moving into Soho or Mayfair as Atherton told Eater was his intention last year. The chef and restaurateur cited the lack of a lunch trade in the area as the main reason the business had not performed as well as had been forecast.

Instead, as of today, Sosharu will introduce a new menu. Executive chef at the site, Alex Craciun, has designed a menu “to make dining at Sosharu a more accessible experience, while still showcasing top quality produce and innovative cooking techniques,” an announcement said.

Atherton himself admitted: “When we launched Sosharu in March 2016, we hit the ground running, however in the current economy people are eating out less and spending less. Farringdon is a tricky spot, but we want to make this fantastic restaurant work so amending the menu and lowering our prices was a logical step.”

When asked about the relocation plans announced last year, a spokesperson for Atherton told Eater: “Right now, there are no plans to relocate Sosharu. Jason has decided to change the menu due to the current economy, making it a more affordable experience.”

Atherton operates a total of 17 restaurants, globally — nine of which are in London — under the parent brand, The Social Company.