The Chilli Pickle closes its Guildford restaurant

Owners Dawn and Alun Sperring confirmed the closure in a statement on their website, saying that it was with great sadness they had made the decision to close the restaurant.

“We have loved being in Guildford and were welcomed warmly by all that came to the restaurant and the local community,” the couple added.

Having operated its flagship restaurant in Brighton for ten years, the opening of the Guildford restaurant in 2018 had marked the first steps towards expanding The Chilli Pickle brand.

The Sperrings first explored options to grow the company in 2017 with a crowdfunding campaign that brought in £700,000 of investment in less than a month.

However, the couple ended up pulling out of the deal.

Then last year the pair announced that they had partnered with Imagine Capital, a boutique investment and advisory firm, with a view to expand the brand over the next few years.

The Sperrings confirmed in their statement that the closure will not affect their future plans.

“This will not effect our Brighton site and The Chilli Pickle will continue to grow and progress, even in these current difficult times for the industry,” they said.

The Chilli Pickle originally opened on Meeting House Lane in 2008, before moving to a larger site on Jubilee Street in 2011.

It is one of the most successful restaurants in Brighton, turning over more than £2m a year.