Harveys, the one-Michelin-starred Bristol restaurant of chef Daniel Galmiche, has been closed by its owner, Allied Domecq, making its chef and 16 full-time employees redundant.
The 51-year-old restaurant, wine cellars and museum was closed with immediate effect from last Tuesday (11 March) after a two-year search by Allied Domecq failed to find a buyer for the loss-making business. The lease for the property is to be sold back to the current landlords, property developers Wilson Connolly, and the 13th-century artefacts from the museum will be transported to the company's headquarters in Jerez, Spain.
Neil Derrick, director and general manager of John Harvey & Sons, said he was saddened at having to close the restaurant, having operated it since 1964. "It wasn't a decision taken lightly, but Harveys has been making significant losses for a long time. We had one or two buyers who were interested but none who would take on a failing restaurant."