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Update 2 p.m. 19.03.20: JKS has confirmed the closure of all restaurants, including now Gymkhana, Sabor, Brigadiers, Kitchen Table, and Bubbledogs.
JKS Restaurants, the group behind a number of London’s most cherished, award-winning, and Michelin-starred restaurants, has announced its first set of closures, adding to the rapidly growing list of businesses impacted by the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak.
Chef James Lowe and general manager John Ogier’s Michelin-starred modern British restaurant Lyle’s in Shoreditch will close today. (For the time being, the whole site, including its coffee bar, will remain closed.) And their more recent opening, Flor, a bakery, wine bar, and restaurant in Borough Market will also close today. A delivery offering is currently under consideration for that site, but both restaurants will remain closed “for the foreseeable future.” Both restaurants are part-owned by the JKS group.
In a post across both restaurant’s Instagram handles, Lowe and Ogier added: “The coming weeks and months are unknown for everyone... This is unchartered territory for us all and while we navigate our way through these difficult times, our staff and guests will remain at the heart of what we do. We look forward to seeing you on the other side and welcoming you back again — But most importantly stay safe!”
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Elsewhere, JKS Restaurants’ first business, Trishna in Marylebone, the Michelin-starred Indian coastal cuisine specialist has closed until further notice. Berenjak, the Persian grill, another partner restaurant within the JKS portfolio, led by chef Kian Samyani, will close after lunch service today. The owners are working out delivery logistics from that site in Soho.
Hoppers, the group’s immensely successful three-site Sri Lankan chain, also announced it would close today. It did so with the following message on social media:
“Given the rising threat levels to the health of our teams and guests and the growing uncertainty around our businesses we, like so many others, have decided to close our doors today until further notice.
“The situation seems to be increasingly challenging but we’re confident we will come out on the other side stronger and more resilient. In the meantime, a massive thanks to everyone who has supported us and sent us kind messages over the past couple of days — it’s not goodbye; but see you later!”
The group also confirmed that they were looking to broaden the delivery/takeaway radius for the restaurants and that more details would be announced soon.
Further announcements are expected this week regarding the status of JKS’ other restaurants: Gymkhana and Sabor in Mayfair, Brigadiers in the City, Kitchen Table and Bubbledogs in Fitzrovia. (JKS also part-owns Bao restaurants, which last night announced group-wide closure and the launch of a new delivery service.) All are currently understood to be considering their short-term options. The group’s delivery-only Indian cuisine brand Motu will be expanding its reach through Deliveroo Editions in the coming days and weeks.