Chef Simon Wood closes Manchester restaurant with immediate effect

Acclaimed chef and MasterChef star Simon Wood has closed his Manchester restaurant WOOD with immediate effect. It comes just days after he hit out at no-show diners.

In a statement posted on social media this afternoon, the chef said he was 'very proud' of what he and his team at WOOD had achieved, but said that Covid rent arrears were being 'demanded' by his landlord. This coupled with issues such as energy increases, ingredients cost and 'spiralling' business rates made it untenable.

The chef, who opened his fine dining restaurant on Manchester's First Street back in 2017, took to social media site X, formerly Twitter, to write: "Dear Friends, Customers and Suppliers of WOOD Manchester. It is with much regret that I have to inform you that I must close the doors here at WOOD for good, with immediate effect."

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In a post accompanied by a picture of the chef, he added: "We have had 7 years as part of the Manchester City dining scene and I'm very proud of what the team and I have achieved.

"Sadly with COVID rent arrears now being demanded by our landlord and an increasingly difficult marketplace, energy increases, ingredient costs and soon to be spiralling business rates we just cannot make this work.

"I'd like to thank everyone for your support and patronage over the years. Thank you, Simon."

Customers and supporters of Simon and his fine dining restaurant quickly responded to share their upset at the sudden closure. One wrote: "Genuinely very sorry to see this news Simon. Whatever comes next, I wish you the very best and every success."

A post from the Almost Famous team wrote: "Absolutely devo to hear this. It’s a sad sad hard