Struggling Central London Restaurants Close Down

Villandry has closed its pair of “grand café” restaurants in central London.

Eater first learned of the closure from a tipster, who reported that the Great Portland street restaurant was being boarded up this morning. Later, both the Great Portland Street and St. James’s reservation lines rang dead.

The news has now been confirmed by the company: An announcement on its website reads:

Martha Thompson and Sarah Rayment of BDO LLP were appointed Joint Administrators of Villandry Restaurant Foodstore Limited (‘the Company’) on 9 August 2018.

The affairs, business and property of the Company are now being managed by the Joint Administrators.

Please note that the Administrators act as agents of the Company and without personal liability.

Eater reported that the restaurants were struggling last week, with recently filed accounts showing substantial losses. These were mostly accounted for by the closure of a restaurant in Bicester, which had accounted for 47 percent of group turnover 2016-17. Coupled with a doubling of rent at Great Portland Street and a 16 percent increase at St James’s, the restaurants simply could not survive.

Villandry has been contacted for comment. More soon.