Two UK closures hit fine dining
The UK fine‑dining scene took hits this month: Somssi closed after chef Jihun Kim left in March 2026, and veteran London restaurant Club Gascon is due to close at the end of March after years of acclaim. Both moves highlight volatility even for critically lauded kitchens. (cumnockchronicle.com)
Chef Jihun Kim posted his departure from the Mandarin Oriental Mayfair on Instagram on 17 March 2026. (thecaterer.com) The hotel confirmed Somssi has closed and the restaurant’s entry was removed from the Michelin Guide and listed as temporarily closed on Google. (boutiquehotelier.com) Somssi operated as an intimate chef’s‑table centred on a 14‑seat marble counter at Mandarin Oriental Mayfair and had been awarded one Michelin star in the Guide’s 2026 update after roughly six months of trading. (guide.michelin.com) Club Gascon’s owners, chef‑owner Pascal Aussignac and Vincent Labeyrie, announced the restaurant will stage its final dinner service on 28 March 2026. (clubgascon.com) The Smithfield restaurant opened in 1998, held a Michelin star continuously since 2002, and won the Newcomer Award at the 1999 Cateys while Aussignac and Labeyrie were named Restaurateur of the Year at the 2007 Cateys. (thecaterer.com) Club Gascon’s public statement thanked past teams and noted it would remain open for lunch Wednesday–Friday and dinner Tuesday–Saturday up to the final service on 28 March. (clubgascon.com)
