Two Michelin-starred Mayfair restaurant The Greenhouse will not reopen after being wound up in court last week, executive chef Alex Dilling has confirmed.
As reported by The Caterer, Dilling broke the news via an Instagram post that read: “It is with great sadness I confirm The Greenhouse Mayfair will not be reopening. The last two years have been an amazing journey.
“I want to thank all of the team that was a part of it; for supporting my vision of gastronomy and culture of hospitality. You are all incredibly talented and I’m so proud to have called you my colleagues but more importantly my friends.
“And finally our suppliers, a cuisine based purely on the quality of product was only made possible through your support and passion.”
According to The Caterer, The Greenhouse’s owner, Marc Ltd, run by Marlon Abela, was wound up in court last week over an unpaid tax bill of almost £500,000.
The company submitted wine for auction in Hong Kong earlier this month, raising £233,000. Marc said it would pay £100,000 immediately and the rest of the debt by the end of the year.
HMRC barrister Jessica Powers told chief judge Nicholas Briggs in a remote hearing that it is the eighth petition against the company. She said Marc had already been wound up but subsequently had the order rescinded.
Judge Briggs said the evidence showed the company was insolvent because it was unable to pay HRMC the full debt.
In early February Abela’s other restaurants, The Square and Umu in Mayfair, went into administration, along with private members club Morton’s. The Square was shut down by administrators in the middle of lunch service on 31 January.
The closure of The Greenhouse is the latest in a growing number of high profile London venues to announce that they won’t be reopening their doors on 4 July,
Among the other recent restaurant closures are Nathan Outlaw’s Siren at The Goring, Adam Handling’s The Frog Hoxton, Agnar Sverrisson’s Texture in Marylebone, Asma Khan’s Darjeeling Express in Soho and Richard Caring’s Le Caprice in St James’s.
