'It's not a decision that's been taken lightly'

Michelin-starred chef and GBM 2020 contestant Thomas Carr won't be reopening The Olive Room at its current site, the team has announced. 

The restaurant, located in Ilfracombe, Devon, which has held a Michelin star for three consecutive years, closed down at the same time as others nationwide when the coronavirus lockdown came into force in March.

However a social media post explains that not only did the restaurant face "many of the same challenges" as other local establishments, it "also had to contend with issues around our future in our current location."

Happily it is not goodbye forever for the Olive Room. The post explains: It's not a decision that's been taken lightly, and we have had some wonderful times at 56 Fore Street, however we now have a new opportunity which means we can grow as a business and move on to the next chapter."

The new venue, of which the exact location will be revealed in due course, will still be in Ilfracombe. 

"We are extremely excited about what's to come, but also very conscious that we are trying to move an established business during such an uncertain time, but please do keep an eye on our social media pages as we will be updating you as soon as we can tell you more!

"Thank you all for your continued support, it means the world to us."

The Olive Room is one of several venues to have been prompted to change locations by the coronavirus outbreak in the UK - which includes Le Caprice - or to sit tight for longer than the law calls for before reopening, as are restaurateurs James Cochran, Sam Buckley and Atul Kochhar. 

However, realities of the industry have also resulted in permanent closures, even among the top tier of the country's restaurants.

These include two of Rick Stein's establishments, one of which has since been bought by chef Michael Caines; Edinburgh's Castle Terrace; and two Michelin-starred Mayfair site, The Greenhouse.