Michelin-starred restaurant closes because it’s too expensive

CNN: Deanes EIPIC, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Belfast, is set to close by the end of 2023 after 26 years, as rising costs and price sensitivity among customers have made operations unsustainable. Opened by Michael Deane in the 1990s and winning a Michelin star within its first year, the restaurant faces economic pressures exacerbated by Covid, Brexit, and the cost-of-living crisis, leading to plans for a relaunch with a focus on value. Head chef Alex Greene notes the costs of meeting customers’ expectations have doubled post-lockdown, making it impossible to raise prices accordingly. He observes a trend towards more economical, less formal Michelin-level dining. The UK’s hospitality industry is also struggling with labor shortages. Greene, alongside general manager Bronagh McCormick, plans to start a new venture in rural Northern Ireland, where post-Covid dynamics and lower costs present new opportunities. This follows a pattern of closures among prestigious restaurants, including Noma in Copenhagen and Michel Roux Jr.’s Le Gavroche in London, highlighting the challenges of traditional fine dining models.

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