Rain and recession blamed for Le Bouchon Breton closure

The French restaurant, founded and owned by restaurateur and ex-money broker Ian Stoppani, closed on Thursday 5 July although its sister restaurant, Le Bouchon Bordelais remains open.

A spokesperson for the directors of the restaurant told BigHospitality trading had been particularly bad recently and had forced them to close the doors of the 160-cover venue.

"After 4 years trading Le Bouchon Breton has now closed. A combination of rain and the double dip recession are to blame as trading since March has been the worst in the restaurants history. Le Bouchon Bordelais will continue to welcome customers at Battersea Rise," they said.

Business explode​

The restaurant, first opened by Stoppani in 2008 in partnership with Michel Roux Jr​, recently took on a new head chef in former Chez Gerard Group employee Christophe Dittrich. In April restaurant general manager Fred Ollier told BigHospitality the restaurant had been successfully rebranded​ to move the focus away from just targeting City-based diners.

"We wanted to get more customers through the doors and create an environment where people can visit more often. Since the menu change earlier this year, business has near enough exploded and customers have been leaving some really great feedback," Ollier said earlier this year.

Head chef Dittrich is no longer with the company although it is not known if Ollier or other members of staff have been re-assigned to Le Bouchon Bordelais.

Closures​

Le Bouchon Breton joins other recent high-profile restaurant closures in the capital this year​ including Rousillon, Galoupet, Assemblage and Knightsbridge's Chicago Rib Shack.

It had been thought the economic climate was leading to a two-speed recovery where hospitality businesses outside of London continued to suffer while those within the M25 were seen 'recession-free' to some extent. However London closures​ and burgeoning hospitable cities outside London​ have put paid to that theory.