Punters gutted as Michelin award-winning restaurant suddenly closes down just weeks after scooping prestigious gong
PUNTERS have been left gutted after a Michelin star restaurant closed just weeks after scooping a prestigious gong.
Native was a farm-to-table restaurant co-founded by Imogen Davis and Ivan Tisdall-Downes.
It was located on the Netherwood Estate on the Herefordshire–Worcestershire border and served a wide variety of modern British foods.
Native had begun life as a simple market stall in 2012 and had called Covent Garden, Borough Market, Osea Island and Mayfair home.
The brand’s biggest triumph came when it won a green star at the 2025 Michelin Star Awards in Glasgow, shortly after its move to the Netherwood Estate.
But just weeks after this prestigious win, customers were left gutted when the restaurant’s owners announced they would be shutting up shop after battling soaring costs.
One disappointed punter called the closure a “blow upon a bruise”, while another said: “shame, it was an excellent restaurant”.
Another added: “A real shame. Always meant to go there.”
A spokesperson for the restaurant revealed the closure was a result of a “deeper problem” with the extraction system, which couldn’t be immediately fixed.
They said: “Extreme highs are often followed with extreme lows.
“Following the amazing news at this year’s Michelin awards we have returned home to find a broken extraction system.
“What we hoped was a quick fix turns out to be a deeper problem with our systems and so sadly, cannot be an immediate fix.
“The large cost to repair this equipment is unfortunately the straw that broke the camels back and has had a huge detrimental effect on a small business with such tight margins and unfortunately has put us in a position whereby the directors at Hestia Ltd have taken the decision to close the restaurant for the foreseeable future.
“We have cancelled all future reservations via our online booking system and if you have paid a deposit a full refund will have been actioned already, you can expect this back within 7 working days.
“We are very sorry for any inconvenience caused and wish all our customers well for the future.”
Native is far from the first beloved restaurant to close down this year.
What is happening to the hospitality industry?
By Laura McGuire, consumer reporter
MANY Food and drink chains have been struggling in recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out.
Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation.
Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny’s closing branches.
Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs.
Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon.
Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans.
La Goccia, a Covent Garden restaurant which was part of the Petersham empire, shut down in February.
The restaurant said that pressures from the October budget and the inability to hire workers because of Brexit led to them putting down their shutters.
Another restaurant named The Petersham, which was part of the same chain, was also forced to close its doors for the same reason.