Legendary BBC chef forced to shut two Michelin-starred restaurant warns of ‘dire situation’ & UK ‘losing its identity’
A LEGENDARY BBC celebrity chef has warned of the “dire” situation facing the UK restaurant industry.
Michel Roux, 64, has worked with the likes of Gordon Ramsay and has done stints on MasterChef: The Professionals.
The celebrity chef currently owns and operates two restaurants in the Langham hotel in London and four in Scotland.
Roux ran the world famous Le Gavroche in Mayfair after taking over from his father Albert 1993.
He ran the restaurant for decades until it sadly closed in January last year.
The culinary legend has now warned of the dire situation facing the UK food industry.
He said a slew of closures are imminent across the UK as restaurants struggle to keep afloat.
The former MasterChef judge said the situation was “so depressing” adding that well-known high end restaurants could be impacted.
He warned that “If we lose restaurants on the street corners, Britain will lose its identity”.
The world famous chef went on to ask “Who would want to open a restaurant now?”
Born in Kent, Roux has worked as a chef since leaving school at 16, he trained in London, France and Hong Kong.
He has said operating the double Michelin starred restaurant in Mayfair had him working 90-hour weeks.
Roux closed Le Gavroche so he could “make time for a better work / life balance”.
The famous two-star eatery opened in 1967 and was known for launching the careers of several world famous chefs.
It has been run by the Roux family since opening but will now reportedly be run by Gordon Ramsay.
Cooking legend and TV star Gordon Ramsay planned to take over the eatery when its closure was announced.
Ramsay worked at the French restaurant in the early days of his career under Roux’s father in the 90s.
Famously Marco Pierre White and Marcus Wareing also did stints at Le Gavroche.
The restaurant even served the late queen on her 90th birthday.
Ramsay is now set to take over the site of Le Gavroche at 43 Upper Brook Street.
Gordon Ramsay secured a 15-year lease on the site with one of his companies acquiring the licence.
Union Street Cafe successfully applied for a premises licence transfer of the Roux family restaurant in February.
Union Street Café is the trading name for Gordon Ramsay Restaurants, which operate Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza, Gordon Ramsay Street Burger, Lucky Cat and Bread Street Kitchen.
Matt Abé who has been at Le Gavroche for 16 years will reportedly be staying on under Ramsay.
More details on the fate of Le Gavroche are expected later 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.