Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck to temporarily relocate to Australia

Heston Blumenthal's The Fat Duck restaurant will temporarily close to relocate to Australia for a six month visit before returning to the UK; making it Heston’s first international restaurant opening.

December 2014 Heston Blumenthal will close the doors of his award-winning The Fat Duck restaurant in Bray, UK and seamlessly reopen in February 2015 with Crown Resorts in Melbourne, Australia.

In an unprecedented move for a restaurant of such renown, Heston will take the entire Fat Duck team with him to Australia for a six month relocation. However, upon The Fat Duck’s return to the UK the Australia location will not be left empty handed as Heston and group executive head chef Ashley Palmer-Watts will open Dinner by Heston Blumenthal, securing lasting ties with Australia.

Both The Fat Duck and Dinner will occupy the same space in the award-winning Crown Towers hotel in Southbank, Melbourne’s urban centre and cultural hub. This ground breaking culinary project will encourage diners from around the world to visit Melbourne generating extensive exposure and benefits for the city, Victoria and Australia.

The move comes as a result of Heston’s long desire to open in Australia, a celebration of The Fat Duck’s 20th anniversary in 2015 and the need for its renovation.

Heston comments: “This is an incredible opportunity and I am thrilled that it has worked out the way it has. The Fat Duck is part of a Grade II listed building, so I always knew there would come a time when it would need a little attention and the building itself would require a bit of modernisation – after all, it was built in 1640. I just couldn’t bear the thought of closing for an extended period, though. When we first started conversations with Crown, I saw the potential of the situation and really began to hope. I couldn’t have asked for a better outcome.”

Whilst at Crown Melbourne Resort, The Fat Duck will offer the same magical dining experience that earned it three Michelin stars in Bray 11 years previously: the full Tasting Menu, and the multi-sensory journey of history, nostalgia, emotion and memory that has made it one of the most acclaimed restaurants in the world.