Rick Stein Closes Marlborough Restaurant Amid Industry Challenges
Rick Stein, the renowned celebrity chef, has announced the closure of his Marlborough restaurant this weekend. This decision follows the widening pre-tax losses at his flagship Seafood Restaurant in Padstow, which reached £459,000. The closure of the Marlborough branch comes after the permanent shutdown of Stein's Coffee Shop in Padstow, Cornwall, highlighting the challenges faced by Britain's restaurant and leisure sector.
The Marlborough restaurant, which has been a part of the Stein group since 2004, will serve its last meals on Sunday, October 5. The closure is a result of falling sales and rising costs, with group revenues declining by 5.4% to £30.4 million last year. Rick Stein has attributed the worsening strain on the hospitality industry to the government's tax policy. Despite the closure, customers with gift cards can still redeem them across the wider Rick Stein group.
The Stein family has decided to close the Marlborough restaurant to secure the future of the wider group. This move is a stark reminder of the fragility of Britain's restaurant and leisure sector, which is grappling with sluggish consumer spending and higher operating costs.
The closure of Rick Stein's Marlborough restaurant underscores the challenges faced by the hospitality industry. Despite the setback, the Stein group is committed to securing its future, with customers still able to redeem gift cards across the wider group. The impact of government tax policy on the industry remains a contentious issue.
