Aikens, who recently made a dramatic return to London’s fine dining scene with the launch of Muse in Belgravia, confirmed the closure, citing challenging market conditions coupled with staff and skills shortages.
At its peak, Tom’s Kitchen operated five restaurants across the UK (four in London and one in Birmingham), as well as one in Istanbul.
However, the group was subsequently reduced to just its original site on Cale Street in Chelsea, which Aikens opened in 2006 not far from his eponymous Michelin-starred Tom Aikens restaurant, which was located on Elystan Street.
“It is with regret that I confirm the closure of Tom’s Kitchen Chelsea, as of 2 January 2020,” Aikens tells BigHospitality.
“Extremely challenging market conditions unfortunately meant that it was no longer viable to continue trading.
“Whilst this is obviously very sad news for myself and all involved in the business, I am hugely proud of everything that we have achieved over the 14 years since opening Tom’s Kitchen on Cale Street in 2006.”
Aikens has not left the casual dining business altogether: he is still involved in Dubai's casual dining restaurant Pots, Pans & Boards.
Aikens says his new tasting menu-only place Muse responds to both the opportunities and challenges of today’s restaurant industry, and also makes more sense for him professionally following him pushing the pause button on his fine dining career five years ago.
Aikens has had a long career in kitchens, having worked at Pierre Koffmann’s La Tante Claire, with Joël Robuchon in Paris and at Pied-à-Terre and is the youngest chef to win two Michelin-stars at the age of 26.
He opened his eponymous restaurant Tom Aikens in Chelsea in 2003, which won two stars before it closed in 2014.
