Heston Blumenthal announces he is closing his two-Michelin star London restaurant
Heston Blumenthal to Close Iconic London Restaurant After 16 Years
The renowned chef has confirmed the permanent closure of his two-Michelin star London eatery following a surge in food costs and a recent bipolar diagnosis. The decision to shutter Dinner by Heston was announced as a ‘bittersweet’ choice, set to take effect in January 2025, marking exactly 16 years since its debut in 2011.
Mr Blumenthal told The Times: ‘I’ve got a year to wrap my head around it. There are some huge feelings there; sadness. It’s bittersweet, but it has run its natural course. We are effectively tenants in a building and our tenancy is finished.’
Dinner by Heston, which launched 16 years after the Fat Duck in Bray, Berkshire — the three-Michelin star establishment that cemented his culinary legacy — earned its first star within a year and secured the second by the following year. One standout dish, the globally renowned chicken liver parfait encased in orange jelly to resemble a mandarin, became the most Instagrammed item in 2011. The creation required three chefs working five hours daily, producing 900 servings weekly.
However, recent concerns about the restaurant’s financial stability arose when HMRC filed a winding-up petition against SL6 Ltd, the parent company. The firm reported losses exceeding £2 million in 2024, up from nearly £1.4 million in 2023. A spokesperson clarified that this was an administrative error during the switch to a new accounting system, which has since been resolved with full payment to HMRC.
Despite the impending end of its summer lease, the tenancy was extended by six months to commemorate the 16th anniversary of the restaurant’s opening. The chef noted that many restaurants face challenges, and this one was no exception. Rising food costs have intensified the strain, compounded by the hotel’s budget constraints. ‘We partnered with the Mandarin for their exceptional service, but budgets can be unpredictable,’ he explained. ‘This is a common reality for any restaurant operating within a hotel.’
Following his bipolar diagnosis in November 2023, which followed months of erratic behavior leading to a psychiatric admission, Blumenthal spent two weeks in a facility with strict medication protocols. He was limited to one daily phone call. Though he’s now on less than 10% of his previous dosage, the condition initially ‘slowed everything down’ and affected his mental clarity.
His sister Alexis, who passed away in 2021, had also been diagnosed with bipolar disorder, though she remained ‘in denial’ about it. He also speculated that his mother might have had the same condition, stating, ‘If she were still with us, I would have pursued her diagnosis.’
In the coming months, Blumenthal plans to divide his time between the Fat Duck and his Provence residence, where he resides with his wife.
