Richard Turner ends tasting menus at his Michelin-starred restaurant, Turners

Chef Patron Richard Turner, of his eponymous Michelin-starred restaurant in Harborne Birmingham, has announced that he is going to return to his roots, focusing on accessible cooking for his loyal customers.

Richard is planning a radical revamp of his three AA Rosette Birmingham restaurant because he thinks elaborate £80-£90 dégustation menus are alienating customers. The small 26-cover restaurant in Harborne, just outside the city centre, has held a star since 2009 and the 46-year-old chef has attracted a loyal clientele for his French-informed modern cookery.

However, Richard said he had grown tired of the industry obsession with tasting menus and the expectations it creates for an endless parade of amuse-bouches, snacks, pre-desserts and petits fours.

Richard said: “The tasting menu-style of cooking can be a straightjacket and I think it will be liberating to offer a more casual style of food.”

Turners, one of five Michelin star restaurants in Birmingham, currently has a 10-course tasting menu for £90. The city’s other Michelin restaurants – Simpsons, Purnell’s, Carters and Adams – all have tasting menus priced from £75 to £88.

Richard plans a radical menu overhaul during the restaurant’s annual closure from August 8. He intends to focus on classic dishes and plans to extend opening hours. The chef has informed Michelin of his change of direction.

Richard, who opened his restaurant in 2007, said: “My customers increasing tell me they want to dine with us more frequently and in a more relaxed atmosphere. The trend towards tasting menus and formal service is a big turn off for many people. So I have decided to create a more relaxed experience with a simplified à la carte menu.

“I will never sacrifice my commitment to quality but I believe quality can be delivered on a more accessible basis.

“I admire the dedication of Birmingham’s star chefs and wish them well. But after almost a decade of unrelenting, high-pressure cooking, I think the time is right for a change of direction – and, most importantly, I think the public is hungry for a change too. Not everyone wants a tasting menu. Frankly, I think tasting menus put a lot of people off.

"Our new-look restaurant will be opening for more hours, serving the best produce available, at competitive prices. At the end of the day, customers just want great food, value and a friendly, welcoming service. It’s a simple as that.

“I love cooking and the new project is hugely exciting. I would like to thank all our customers, many of whom travel from across the UK. Over the remaining weeks, we will continue to serve our existing menus and we look forward to welcoming old friends and new customers as we embark on an exciting new phase.”

Turners will close for its Summer break early August and re-open with new menus and environment.