It's been a year since the Highbury branch of the popular French restaurant Patron closed its doors, ostensibly for a few months to allow the building to be underpinned. Many, many months on from that the owners have made the announcement this week that they won't be returning to Blackstock Road.
But this isn't a tale of restaurant costs forcing a closure, it's much darker than that. Speaking to Hot Dinners this week they said: "We've been through an awful period of time filled with uncertainty and legal battles with the landlord that resulted in a loss of our beautiful restaurant."
It turns out that while owners Jean Francois and Tanzi were patiently waiting for the go-ahead to return to trading, the new landlord of the building had apparently gutted their beautiful restaurant. "The new landlord had alternative plans for the building from the get-go, which was made shockingly apparent to us, not through any form of communication, but when we discovered that the entire restaurant had been ripped out, leaving a gaping hole in our hearts and pockets."
It's a very sad end to a happy three years the team had in Highbury, but they're hoping their N5 fans will show support by visiting their other restaurant in Kentish Town. If you need any more incentive, they've just opened up a Chef's Table at the Secret Garden experience there. Diners are given "a beautifully laid French table where you will be dining under the stars... with a five-course tasting menu served by the chef himself and topped with a private tour of the restaurant kitchen towards the end of your meal."
More about Patron
Where is it? 26 Fortess Rd, London NW5 2HB
When does it open? Time
Find out more: Visit their website or follow them on Instagram @patronlondon
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