Brexit uncertainty causes closures and U-turns in the on-trade

By Jo Gilbert

Published: 04 July, 2016

Economic uncertainty folloeing Britain's EU referendum has been cited as the main reason behind a celebrity chef's decision to withdraw from a restaurant development in Eastbourne and the closure of a fine-dinning restaurant in Harrogate.

Economic uncertainty following Britain's EU referendum has been cited as the main reason behind a celebrity chef's decision to withdraw from a restaurant development in Eastbourne and the closure of a fine-dinning restaurant in Harrogate.

Last week, Eastbourne Borough Council announced that their preferred operator to lead the new Wish Tower development - believed to be celebrity chef Rick Stein - has pulled himself out of the running, blaming Brexit as the cause.

According to the Eastbourne Herald, Stein had been chosen by the council to run the seafront destination restaurant, - currently being built at a cost of £1.2m - but has pulled out as a result of the EU referendum.

"The council was in advanced negotiations with a preferred operator for the new Wish Tower restaurant. These discussions followed a procurement exercise where three potential suppliers had been shortlisted. In light of the result of the EU referendum the preferred operator has decided to withdraw from the process," said a council spokesman.

Meanwhile in Yorkshire, Brexit has also played its part in the closure of Van Zeller, a fine dining restaurant in Harrogate.

Chef patron Tom van Zeller said that economic uncertainty and eight new openings in Harrogate has left him with little choice but to close the restaurant's doors.

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