Restaurant Castle Terrace to close forever

Award-winning Restaurant Castle Terrace, sister to The Kitchin and led by chef patron Dominic Jack is set to close its doors forever after 10 years. 

In a statement, Dominic said: “Sadly today, I have made the unavoidable decision to permanently close Castle Terrace. The impact of the Coronavirus pandemic, along with the current guidelines, and no upcoming tourist trade in Edinburgh mean it is no longer financially viable for us to continue to operate.

"It is heart-breaking to close the doors after 10 successful years and it is not a decision we have made lightly. I want to personally thank all our loyal guests and visitors over the years, and for the special memories Castle Terrace has given me and my team. It’s a really sad day.” 

Owner and Michelin-starred chef patron of The Kitchin Group (which includes the Bonnie Badger, the Scran & Scallie and Southside Scran) Tom Kitchin, also shared his commiserations.

He said:“It is incredibly upsetting that Dominic and I have had to make this difficult decision. Just short of Castle Terrace’s 10th birthday, the restaurant will be missed by so many, especially our regulars.

"Dominic Jack is one of the most talented chefs I know and it is absolutely devastating that we aren’t able to reopen the restaurant again. We are doing all we can to save jobs across Kitchin Group but I am incredibly upset for the Castle Terrace team today.” 

Castle Terrace, located underneath Edinburgh Castle in the Scottish capital, was opened by Tom Kitchin in 2010 to rave reviews, with former l'Arpege chef and colleague at Gleneagles, Dominic Jack, at the helm.

The restaurant secured a Michelin star two years later. It lost its star in 2015 and has since held a Michelin plate.

The guide describes Castle Terrace as follows: "Set in the shadow of the castle is this bright, contemporary restaurant with hand-painted wallpapers and a mural depicting the Edinburgh skyline. Cooking is ambitious with a playful element and combines many different textures and flavours. The wine list also offers plenty of interest."

Great British Menu 2020 contestant Roberta Hall-McCarron worked at the restaurant before leaving to found her own award-winning establishment, The Little Chartroom. 

The news comes as heavy casualties hit the hospitality sector, with major establishments including  The Greenhouse, two of Rick Stein's restaurants, other Edinburgh gem The Tower, and many others announcing their permanent closure.

More could follow, as this morning it emerged that the city of Leicester has been placed under localised lockdown, a measure which could be implemented at any time until the UK obtains a vaccine for Covid-19.