Heston Blumenthal Closes Michelin Restaurant
Heston Blumenthal is closing his two-Michelin-star restaurant Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at London's Mandarin Oriental in January 2027. The acclaimed restaurant, which redefined modern British cuisine with innovative historical dishes like "Meat Fruit," ran for 16 years before rising costs and industry challenges forced the "bittersweet" decision. Diners have until end of January 2027 to experience the flagship menu.
The closure is primarily due to the end of a 16-year tenancy at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, a decision Heston Blumenthal described as a "natural course." The restaurant was originally set to close in the summer of 2026, but the contract was extended for six months to allow for a final anniversary celebration. Blumenthal has also pointed to broader industry pressures, including rising food prices and budgetary constraints, as contributing factors. The UK hospitality sector has been facing significant headwinds, with many establishments struggling against inflation, increased utility and labor costs, and cautious consumer spending. Dinner by Heston Blumenthal opened in 2011 with Ashley Palmer-Watts, a chef from Blumenthal's three-Michelin-star flagship The Fat Duck, at the helm. The restaurant quickly achieved critical acclaim, earning its first Michelin star within a year and a second in 2014, cementing its status as a global dining destination. The restaurant's concept is built around reviving and modernizing historic British dishes, with recipes dating back to the 14th century. Its most iconic dish, "Meat Fruit," is a chicken liver parfait masterfully disguised as a mandarin orange, a playful nod to a 15th-century culinary trick. At its peak, the restaurant sold 900 of these highly photographed dishes every week. While the London location is closing, the Dinner by Heston brand continues to operate at the Atlantis The Royal in Dubai. An Australian outpost in Melbourne has since closed. Blumenthal himself has hinted that the "Dinner" concept may have a future, stating his creativity is returning and there are "quite a few options on the table." This closure comes after a period of financial strain for Blumenthal's restaurant group. The parent company, SL6 Limited, which includes The Fat Duck and the one-Michelin-star Hind's Head pub, reported widening pre-tax losses from £1.377 million to £2.075 million for the year ending in May 2024.
