Bonnie Gull to close Soho site - updated
Announcing the closure on Instagram, the restaurant said: “Sometimes great things too must end. This week we say goodbye to our beloved Bonnie Gull Soho after three glorious years of oysters, grilled fish and many many laughs. Our last service will be Friday evening. We hope you can join us before we close to help us say goodbye with a bang.”
The 22-cover seafood bar opened on Bateman Street in late 2016, serving a small plates menu featuring oysters and freshly caught British day-boat fish.
Bonnie Gull was founded by restaurateurs Alex Hunter and Danny Clancy, who started the ‘seafood restaurant in the city’ concept with a pop up in Hackney.
In 2012 the pair moved on to a permanent location on Foley Street in Fitzrovia, which continues to operate, although it is currently closed for a refurbishment.
Bonnie Gull also previously had a site in Exmouth Market, but that closed prior to the launch of the Soho ‘shack’.
Last year Hunter launched fishmongers-cum-seafood bar venture The Sea, The Sea in Chelsea.
Regarding the Bonnie Gull closure, Hunter said in a statement: "After three wonderful years on Bateman Street we have made the difficult decision to close our much-loved Soho restaurant. It has not been an easy conclusion to come to, given that the restaurant has been so well received by critics and customers alike; however we feel that in this difficult market, consolidation and focus on our flagship restaurant on Foley Street is vital. Bonnie Gull Fitzrovia, now in its eighth year, is currently undergoing an extensive refurbishment and will re-open next week. We’ve got some exciting plans for the restaurant this year that we look forward to sharing in due course.
"We will greatly miss our Soho branch and I want to thank all of our wonderful team and loyal customers who made it such a fun place to work and to dine."
