'It all felt bittersweet'. Overwhelmed by the many nostalgic notes from regulars, the owners of a fine dining restaurant in Nottingham explained the closure by referring to the new British eating out habits and the price crisis, which affects customers and restaurateurs equally.
The news
That fine dining is a financial bubble has always been a popular opinion, no matter how controversial. Money, vox populi repeats, is made in pizzerias, certainly not while chasing Michelin stars. Supporting this thesis now comes the affair of World Service, a historic fine dining restaurant in Castle Gate, Nottingham, which is about to lower its shutters for good after 24 successful years, as the BBC wistfully reports.
The last service will occur on August 3, the restaurant's opening anniversary, as a result of changes in habits related to eating out in Britain and the economic downturn resulting from price increases, as explained by Dan Lindsay, one of the owners. After the announcement, there were numerous messages from loyal customers, expressing regret and narrating memories, which had a bittersweet taste for those who used to work at the restaurant.
"Things have been great for us, but the market has changed with regard to what people look for when dining out. Fine dining is not as popular as it used to be. There is a lot of choice, with a wide range of restaurants, but a small pool of people eager to sit down to a meal right now. The cost of living is a real nagging issue for people. And we are not immune to the rise in inflation either. I think the situation is not easy for anyone".
Replying to the sad messages received, Lindsay had only to invite regulars to walk through the restaurant's iconic red door for a final farewell, which many have indeed already done. "World Service has been an institution, we've been a part of many people's special events over the years, birthdays and weddings have been celebrated here, we've all grown up together. But to be honest, people's reaction amazed us. It was not an easy decision to close after all these years, it is tough to see how much love surrounds us. We are busier than ever with the amount of bookings from those who want to enjoy one last meal with us. It has all been bittersweet".
