“I’m ready to move on to my next challenge” – Alexis Noble to permanently close Wander

In a statement, Noble, who originally launched Wander in November 2017, said she would be shutting the restaurant’s doors in ‘a few months’, adding that she plans to go travelling following the closure ahead of a return to Australia.

“I love both this restaurant and N16, and although I have created a successful and sustainable life and business here, I have achieved all my goals in this space and I’m now ready to move on to my next challenge,” she said.

The announcement comes less than a year after Noble relaunched Wander following a six-month hiatus​​ where she was forced to close to the restaurant due to issues with her visa​​.

“When I first moved to London in 2017 to create Wander my greatest goal was always to make it to five years, after which I had planned to return to Australia,” her statement continued.

“However, Covid and then some immigration issues threw a little bit of a kink into those plans, so when I was forced to close and return home last year, I decided that I didn’t want to end things that way and wanted to come back and give myself at least one more year to finish things right.

“Whilst I have enjoyed being back, my end game has always been in the back of my mind and spending time at home really affirmed my decision that it’s time to go.

“I know I have said that we were closing before, but unlike last time which was not at all my decision, this time it is, and I want to be transparent with everyone which is why I’m giving three months’ notice of my intention to permanently close.

“Closing a successful business may seem crazy to some, but I’m at a stage in my life where I would like to have some more flexibility with both my money and time.”

Wander, which has previously ranked on the National Restaurant Awards top 100 list, celebrates a nomadic approach to cooking and is partly inspired by Noble's travels through America, Asia and Europe.