Birch’s Hertfordshire hotel closes suddenly - updated

Launched in 2020, the Hertfordshire-based hotel and co-working space is home to two restaurants overseen by high profile chef Robin Gill​​ - The Zebra Riding Club and the more casual Valeries. 

Birch launched a second location, in Croydon, earlier this year.​​ It is understood that the site - which has two restaurants overseen by chef Lee Westcott - is also in administration but continues to trade as normal.  

A statement on Birch Cheshunt's website reads: “We deeply regret to inform you that the owners of Birch Cheshunt Theobalds Park Op Co have placed the business into administration and the administrators Tenco, are closing the hotel with immediate effect. We are very sad to share this disappointing news and apologise for the obvious distress and disruption to our members, guests, suppliers and the great employees.” 

The brainchild of Chris Penn, former managing director at The Ace Hotel in London and entrepreneur Chris King, Birch is described as being a cross between a hotel and a members club.

The pair left the business earlier this year and a new management team led by managing director Ayo Akinsete was put in place. 

In an Instagram post, Gill said that the closure had come as ‘a huge shock’ and called for the business to be rescued. 

“I’m assuming it’s now up for sale at a fraction of what the owners would have liked to sell it for and needs some love from investors with vision and passion to get it to where it needs, and deserves to be,” the post reads. 

“We had to down tools with immediate effect yesterday!” Gill continues. “I believe this is strictly a financial hit due to a lack of funds required for reinvestment into the sites that was needed to bring the properties up to standard.

“Birch is special and unique and has a fantastic team who are now unemployed and could do with some help finding work.”