Chef Vineet Bhatia closes flagship restaurant Vineet Bhatia London one week after receiving Michelin star

Vineet Bhatia announces the closure of his Chelsea based restaurant Vineet Bhatia London (VBL) one week after receiving its first star in the Michelin Guide UK 2018.

• When did Vineet Bhatia become the first ever Indian chef to be awarded a Michelin star?

The shock news came after the chef and his wife, Rashima posted a statement on the restaurant’s website over the weekend.

The statement reads, “thanks all its patrons and guests for the support and encouragement received. It has been a wonderful journey and until we meet again. ONWARDS AND UPWARDS!”

Further posts on their social media accounts also confirmed the news declaring October 8, 2017, to be their last service.

VINEET BHATIA LONDON last service 8 Oct’17
VBL needs to move out for a fresh start & thanks it's patrons and guests for all the support. pic.twitter.com/qxItL58gvC

— Vineet Bhatia (@Vineet_Bhatia) 7 October 2017

No explanation for the shock closure has been given at this time except a tweet from the Michelin starred chef’s account that simply says ‘it’s time to move out’.

In less than a year of opening @VineetBhatiaLDN-Michelin Star,3 AA Rosettes,Best New Restaurant,Best Chef, 33 Tripadvisor.Time to move out ???? pic.twitter.com/ylziYlBNCe

— Vineet Bhatia (@Vineet_Bhatia) 9 October 2017

Attending the live launch of the Michelin Guide UK 2018 on Monday, October 2, Vineet and his wife Rashima took the stage to accept the award saying ‘I'm truly chuffed for the family and for the people that work for us at VBL.’

Vineet came to the UK from Mumbai in 1993. He opened Zaika in 1999 which earned the chef a Michelin star, in doing so he became the first Indian chef to ever be awarded the accolade. Rasoi followed in 2004 which underwent refurbishment last year and reopened as Vineet Bhatia London.

Vineet’s restaurant empire includes Rasoi By Vineet, Geneva; Rasoi By Vineet, Bahrain; Amari By Vineet, Mauritius; Indego By Vineet, Dubai; Maharaja by Vineet, Saudi Arabia; Saffron Lounge By Vineet, Qatar; Maharaja By Vineet, Riyadh; and Ziya, Mumbai.