BBC star chef suddenly closes restaurant after 9 months despite £400,000 revamp just last year
A BBC star chef has suddenly closed his restaurant after nine months - despite a £400,000 revamp just last year.
Caldesi opened in Belsize, north London last April, serving upmarket Italian food.
It was the brainchild of Giancarlo Caldesi, an Italian restaurauteur famed for his appearance on the BBC documentary series Return To Tuscany, alongside wife Katie.
The show followed the pair as they tried to make a success of their cooking school in the stunning Italian region.
Giancarlo has also appeared on Masterchef and Saturday Kitchen.
Prior to opening, the restaurant underwent a huge £400,000 renovation of the site, which had been previously frequented by another Italian restaurant called Calici.
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But, just months later, bosses confirmed the restaurant's upcoming closure on Instagram.
The message read: "'A tavola non si invecchia' — you never grow old at the table.
"We have officially closed our doors at Caldesi in Belsize and are deeply grateful for the support and cherished moments shared with our guests."
Luckily, Caldesi has two sister restaurants in Marlyebone and Campagna, which remain open - and Giancarlo advised any disappointing customers to visit those instead.
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Singing off, he added: "Con amore [with love], Caldesi in Belsize."
The comments were flooded with support, with one fan writing: "Shame. You will be missed in Belsize."
Others were quick to notice how quickly Giancarlo had shut up shop, with one saying: "Didn’t you only just open?"
Another confused local asked: "That was short and sweet?"
Meanwhile, a different commenter noted that the site has seen a string of restaurant closures, through the years.
Before Caldesi and Calici, another restaurant, pan Asian restaurant XO, had also attempted to make things work.
They said: "Such a shame you have closed down , you made it very welcoming place.
"We loved XO, then Calici and now Caldesi. [Fingers crossed emoji] it opens again in another capacity and 4th time lucky."
The restaurant was a family affair, with Giancarlo's sons Giorgio and Flavio helping to run the ship.
"We've done a lot of work on it, it's a beautiful place," he told Ham&High at the launch party in May.
Fortunately, the family still have plenty of other culinary projects on the go.
As well as the remaining two Caldesi branches, Giancarlo and Katie also run their cookery school of 17 years, La Cucina Caldesi.
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It comes as another top chef, Roger Hickman, has also been forced to close his Michelin-backed restaurant after 15 years.
He admitted that "the industry has changed dramatically", adding: "It’s been an extraordinary journey, but after 15 years, I’ve decided it’s time to put the restaurant on the market for sale."
What is happening to the hospitality industry?
By Laura McGuire, consumer reporter
MANY Food and drink chains have been struggling in recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out.
Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation.
Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's closing branches.
Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs.
Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon.
Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans.
