Chef who worked for Jamie Oliver suddenly closes restaurant and cancels all future bookings in ‘stomach churning’ news

A CHEF who worked at one of Jamie Oliver’s restaurants has announced he will shutter his own food spot, leaving diners devastated.

Andy and Lyndsey Appleton have cancelled all bookings and laid off staff at the eponymous Appleton’s in Fowey, Cornwall.

The popular spot started welcoming famished locals in 2016 and quickly became a popular fixture in the port town, Devon Live .

Andy, who previously worked as the former head chef of Jamie Oliver’s Fifteen Cornwall, sent out the announcement on Instagram.

“We are deeply saddened and with a deep, constant feeling of nausea in the pits of our stomach we post this to say we have closed the restaurant with immediate effect,” the couple wrote.

“All creditors will be contacted in the next week, all future reservations will be cancelled and hopefully contacted (we’re sorry we won’t be able to look after you) please be kind and patient should you need a response from anyone and please direct those queries to us and not our team.”

Appleton’s was split over two floors and featured an eye-catching cocktail bar and a deli.

The team primarily served up tasty Italian dishes with local Cornish produce.

The Times’ food expert ranked the gaff as among the best restaurants in Cornwall and it was a finalist for restaurant of the year in the Food Lifestyle Awards 2024.

The couple paid tribute to their hard-working staff, and reflected on the “stomach churning” decision to pull the plug.

They continued: “We have [had] an incredible group of people who were in our staff family and are now without work and awaiting redundancy just before Christmas, which again makes our stomachs churn.

“If we ever end up in a position where we could employ them, we would do so in a heartbeat.

“If anyone has anything or are looking for some really special individuals please get in touch with us and I can forward that on.

“To all our customers (and so then, friends) that have dined with us and supported us over the years and enjoyed our hospitality or experienced what we do, to anyone that has celebrated something or simply smiled or laughed within our walls, thank you.”

Gutted locals weighed in on the news – and heaved praise on the “talented and passionate” owners.

One said: “I’m so sad and it’s a loss for the town you will be missed.

“It’s such hard work and we all put in everything as business owners.

“Thinking of all of you x.”

Another weighed in: “Oh no! You guys created something very, very special over these past few years and we were privileged to eat at your two establishments.

We are deeply saddened and with a deep, constant feeling of nausea in the pits of our stomach we post this to say we have closed the restaurant with immediate effect.

Andy and Lyndsey Appleton

“So very sorry Lynds and Andy – you are both incredibly talented, passionate individuals who I sincerely hope will rise again.”

It comes after a top chef who worked for BBC’s Rick Stein has unexpectedly closed his Michelin restaurant and revealed that plans “will be released soon”.

Chef Roy Brett has announced plans to shut and relocate Ondine Oyster & Grill in early 2025.

He first opened the Michelin restaurant in 2009 in Edinburgh’s Old Town.

In 2021, Brett began works on the exterior of the Ondine Oyster & Grill to resemble a ship.

However, due to “unforeseen circumstances” the restaurant was left covered in scaffolding.

This led the chef to close his restaurant, as he felt the customers deserved better.