Bjorn van der Horst has decided to close his London restaurant, Eastside Inn, it was confirmed today.
The Swiss-born, French raised chef-proprietor, who ran the 84-cover venue in Farringdon with his wife Justine, reportedly closed the restaurant yesterday, saying that it was a "melange of too much in a difficult time."
Van der Horst said he was "devastated" at the decision, but that he felt it was the right one.
It has also emerged that the former Michelin-starred restauranteur was offered the chance to continue trading at the Eastside Inn, but turned it down to prevent further difficulties down the line.
Last year the restaurant changed its format from a fine-dining establishment to a more “homely” venue, sparking speculation that the restaurant was having trouble finding its place in the market.
Van der Horst started his career in the kitchens of Joel Robuchon and Alain Ducasse before heading up the kitchen at Terrance Brennan's restaurant, Picholine, in New York.
He moved to London to relaunch the Greenhouse and joined Gordon Ramsay's La Noisette before opening the Eastside Inn with Justine in May 2008.
Nobody at the Eastside Inn was available for comment.