Le Gavroche to close after 55 years

Michel Roux has announced that the Le Gavroche Upper Brook Street site, where the restaurant has operated for over 55 years, will close in January 2024.

Originally opened in 1967 by Michel’s father Albert and uncle Michel, Le Gavroche was the first UK restaurant to gain one, two and three Michelin stars (it currently holds two).

Led by Michel Roux Jr since 1991, the chef says that he is looking for a better work/life balance without the daily demands of a busy Michelin-starred restaurant, and the upcoming end of his current lease gave him the opportunity to assess and consider his future.

"The pressure to be able to deliver the high quality that everyone expects is wearing when it’s every day and every plate," he says. "The closure of Le Gavroche at this site is about turning the page and moving forward so I can focus on my family as well our other businesses."

Michel will continue to head up the F&B operations at The Langham, London, also working with the ICMI Hotel Group operating the Roux restaurants in Scotland, consulting for Compass Group and catering at major sporting events with them including the Wimbledon Championships.

These businesses include Chez Roux, famed for providing hospitality at prestigious sporting events, which has expanded to offer catering at home, cookery classes and culinary consultancy from a hand-picked team led by Emily and Michel Roux.

Michel’s daughter Emily and son-in-law Diego Ferrari will continue to operate their Notting Hill restaurant Caractère. The Le Gavroche brand and the limited company will be retained by the family and will be used for special events and pop-ups.  

Restaurant staff will be going through redundancy consultations over the next few weeks. Michel has assured that those who do not qualify for redundancy are also properly looked after.

Ahead of the closure, there will be a series of public dinners celebrating the restaurant's menus throughout the decades, which will start this November and run until the January closure. Further details will be announced on the Le Gavroche website soon. 

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