“It’s so sad, but there was no light at the end of the tunnel. So while we are gutted to be closing, we have be objective.
“So it has been a very hard decision to make, but we have to make a living,” Tina Jeffery tells us, as she discusses closing their beloved restaurant Gourdans in St Clements which she opened with husband Matt back in 2020. READ ABOUT IT HERE
“our customers used to come in and have a steak each and a bottle of wine. Now they’ll share and go for the cheaper option. We’ve even had a couple who shared a glass of wine”
“I would never have believed we would be in this position even a few months ago because we had a great year last year, but things have gone from bad to worse. It’s just not sustainable.”
So what has made the difference? “The LTN’s and lack of parking, the cost of living and rising costs. Our customers ring up regularly and say they are stuck in a traffic jam at The Plain trying to get to us, or have been circling for 40 minutes trying to park. It’s just been one thing after another. So we just had to cut our losses.
So what’s made the difference? “The LTN’s and lack of parking, the cost of living and rising costs”
“But we have met some incredible people along the way and the feedback has always been really inspiring READ ONE OF OUR REVIEWS HERE, so who knows what the future holds. Maybe we’ll be back,” Tina says.
And yet when they opened Gourdans was such a success? “Yes, but after lockdown everyone wanted to get back out there and treat themselves, but now people just don’t have as much disposable income,” Tina says.
“I feel like it’s the eye of the storm, and things will get better for those who can hold out, but we can’t”
“And we know its’s not our product because people love it here, sometimes coming all the way from London specially, but everyone is being more cautious now.
“They used to come in and have a steak each and bottle of wine. Now they’ll share and go for the cheaper option. We’ve even had a couple who shared a glass of wine.”
‘while we love our restaurant and put our hearts and souls into it, the current economic climate is too much for us to take on’
“And of course we have adapted by slimming down the team and closing at lunchtimes, but we won’t compromise on our offering or our standards,” Tina explains.
“So while we love our restaurant and put our hearts and souls into it, the current economic climate is too much for us to take on. We just can’t make a living out of it anymore. People loving it here isn’t enough, there just isn’t the same volume of customers.”
“It’s really hard times in the restaurant industry right now. I feel like it’s the eye of the storm, and things will get better for those who can hold out, but we can’t and Cowley Road is so quiet. I really feel for everybody in the hospitality industry at the moment. So we are just taking some time out to consider the future.”
Gourdans will close permanently on Sunday June 16. https://gourdans.co.uk
