A CHANNEL 4 star and her father have sadly closed a beloved restaurant after three years.
Samyukta Nair, who appeared on Sunday Brunch, told fans “it’s been an unforgettable journey” ahead of serving final diners yesterday.
Koyn, in the upmarket area Mayfair, London, opened three years ago[/caption]
The restaurant officially closed down on Saturday[/caption]
Koyn, in the upmarket area Mayfair, London, has officially shut after first opening in 2022.
It was Samyukta and her dad Dinesh’s fifth venue in the affluent neighbourhood.
The restaurant was known for it’s exquisite Japanese and Thai cuisine prepared by former Nobu chef Rhys Cattermoul.
The father and daughter duo made their announcement on social media.
In post on Instagram, the Koyn team wrote: “Koyn will close its doors for the final time on Saturday, 27 September.
“As we serve our last guests at Grosvenor Street, we look back with gratitude on an unforgettable journey through the flavours of Japan and Thailand.
“What began as a bold harmony of Japanese elegance, became something stronger with the Thai fire: a love for storytelling through cuisine.
“Though we bid farewell to Grosvenor Square, Koyn’s spirit lives on, ready to ignite in new spaces and new stories we are excitedly waiting to tell in the heart of Mayfair.”
It is also understood Koyn Thai, another Nair family project, is looking to move locations.
This comes after the Sunday Brunch star and her Michelin chef partner previously announced they shut down another restaurant after just two years.
Samyukta and Claude Bosi, who has won two Michelin stars three times, broke the sad news to fans last year.
Their beloved Mayfair restaurant Socca, in London, served its last customers November 30.
Samyukta told Restaurant Online at the time: “It is with great sadness that we have decided to close Socca.
“I have loved working with Claude on this project, and it has been an incredible journey for me and all the team.
The venue was hailed for its Japanese and Thai cuisine[/caption]
Koyn opened in 2022[/caption]
Samyukta said it had been an ‘unforgettable journey’[/caption]
“Watching so many diners come through our doors has brought me so much joy, and I want to say a huge thank you for dining with us over the last two years.”
Socca welcomed customers in 2023 with their French-inspired dishes.
Claude added: “It has been a pleasure working with Samyukta at Socca, we are very grateful for all our guests, and their loyalty over the years.”
LSL Capital are keeping the site and is searching for the next venue to open.
Samyukta and LSL Capital still own several Mayfair restaurants including Bombay Bustle, Jamavar, MiMi Mei Fair, and Koyn Thai.
They have also just opened Nipotina, an Italian eatery.
And Samyukta is not the only celebrity chef to have closed restaurants in recent times.
We reported earlier this week how Rick Stein will permanently shut his coffee shop after his restaurant empire suffered a huge slump.
Rick Stein, 78, has presented many cookery shows on the BBC, UKTV and ITV over the years.
Over his career spanning five decades, he has run high-profile restaurants and hotels across the UK.
He has run his successful restaurant group with his ex-wife Jill Newstead and his three sons Jack, Charlie and Ed.
Why celeb restaurants go bust
By Paul Lochhead – managing director of Drinkstuff
THE recent wave of celebrity chef restaurant closures can indeed be attributed to several factors, with the pandemic being a significant one.
The hospitality industry, particularly high-end restaurants, faced unprecedented challenges during the pandemic. Restrictions on dining, a shift to takeaways, and the need for social distancing significantly reduced footfall and revenue for these establishments.
However, the impact goes beyond the pandemic. High-end restaurants operate on a model that requires substantial overheads—premium locations, top-quality ingredients, and skilled staff.
With the economic uncertainty and a change in consumer behaviour post-pandemic, there’s been a shift in dining preferences. Many diners are now seeking more casual, value-driven experiences, which puts pressure on the viability of luxury dining.
Moreover, for celebrity chefs, these ventures are often passion projects rather than primary revenue sources.
If a restaurant isn’t performing well, it may not be worth the continued investment, especially when compared to the other income streams they have, such as media appearances, books, and endorsements.
Meanwhile, another top celebrity chef officially closed down his upmarket Mayfair restaurant last month.
Award-winning cook Roy Ner’s Jeru restaurant shut its doors for the final time after four years in business.
The Mediterranean themed establishment sat across three floors on Berkeley Street including an all-day bakery and a basement bar called Layla.
And, MasterChef star Graham Hornigold announced the closure of all of his UK pastry shops, after struggling to cope with climbing costs.
The Junior Bake Off star co-founded gourmet doughnut brand Longboys back in 2019, but just six years later, the business has gone bust.
The brand’s three London sites, in Liverpool Street, Coal Drops Yard and Market Halls Canary Wharf have all closed their doors for their final time.
Samyukta closed down another London venue in November last year[/caption]
