Chef Michael Carr announces Restaurant 92 in Harrogate has closed
Restaurant 92 in Harrogate announced on Instagram yesterday (January 7 2019) that it will ‘cease trading with immediate effect’.
Speaking to The Staff Canteen, Restaurant 92 chef owner Michael Carr and co-owner Ian Humphreys, said: “It was a hugely difficult decision to make. We run our business like a family and everyone who works here has been here a long time so it’s gut-wrenching really, particularly with lots of exciting things in the pipeline this year which would have put the restaurant on the map.”
Restaurant 92 chef owner Michael Carr
and co-owner Ian Humphreys
They added: “The response to the closure on social media is that people are surprised and shocked because they love the place, but the truth is the restaurant just hasn’t been supported adequately through the week. The style of food we cook requires a number of well trained chefs, we therefore need the restaurant to be busy during the week not just the weekends.
“In Harrogate there doesn’t seem to be the base support for independent businesses. There have been lots of new restaurants opened in Harrogate over the past few years and chains have deep pockets to carry them in the first few years to establish themselves. As an independent, that is seldom the case and if your restaurant is not busy you are fund any shortfall yourself or make up the difference at the weekend.
Restaurant 92 opened in 2015, it has featured in the Michelin Guide UK 2017/2018 and 2018/2019 and Michael himself has won a number of accolades including being crowned Harrogate’s Chef of the Year 2017 and 2018, at the Harrogate Tourism and Hospitality Awards.
Michael started his career in his home town before heading to Cornwall to work with Neil Martin and Chris Eden, then he moved to London to work with Gordon Ramsay and Alyn Williams.
On his future Michael said: “I don’t know what to say – I’ll be looking to do something where I can still better myself and the food I love to create but right now it’s all still very raw. Talking to people around me I think there are some exciting things I can do, we’ll just have to see what comes my way.”
He added: “We’re just really sad to be closing the doors.”
It follows the closure of fellow independent restaurant, Norse, last year despite appealing to the public to support their local eateries.
Both Ian and Michael want to stress, on a national level not just in Harrogate, how important it is for people to go and eat at an independent restaurant.
They said: “The support for independents needs to be really looked at - we are the last high-end independent in Harrogate and all the chains you would normally find are intruding on a lovely little business town.”
{{user.name}}