Award-winning Paternoster Farm restaurant to close, blaming council for ‘exhausting’ uncertainty

Award-winning Pembrokeshire restaurant Paternoster Farm is to close by the end of April, with owner Michelle Evans blaming “exhausting and emotionally draining” uncertainty over the farm’s tenancy with Pembrokeshire County Council.

The team will relocate their acclaimed hospitality operation to The Old Point House pub in Angle, just six miles away, and have launched a Kickstarter campaign to help fund the move.

Paternoster Farm, set in a former milking parlour in Hundleton, gained national recognition for its sustainable ethos and daily-changing set menu, earning praise from The Times and a place in the Good Food Guide for three consecutive years.

However, the future of the restaurant was thrown into doubt after Pembrokeshire County Council gave notice that it would not extend the farm tenancy. According to owner Michelle Evans, a former solicitor, the council’s subsequent actions have made staying impossible.

“Twelve months have elapsed since the Authority advised our tenancy would not be extended,” Evans said in a statement. “We were given hope when a full council meeting unanimously voted to uphold our petition and, in doing so, accepted that the County Farm Policy was not fit for purpose. An urgent policy review was agreed, yet almost eight months later that review has not begun. It has become apparent we are looking at years, not months, before a longer-term decision is made.”

She described the past year as “exhausting and emotionally draining for our whole family and our team.”

The opportunity to take over The Old Point House in Angle offered long-term security. The move is also a personal one for Evans, who grew up in the village. “This peninsula is home,” she said.

The new venue will feature a pub menu with handmade classics like pies and Scotch eggs, alongside an evening restaurant menu in the same style that won Paternoster Farm its loyal following. A new bakehouse will also be created.

The team has launched a public Kickstarter to help fund the move, offering rewards including opening night tickets and private hire packages. The last day of service at the current Paternoster Farm location will be Friday, 17th April, with a closing party planned for the 18th.

This stinks. Becks Prime on Westheimer is closing down permanently. The location served my colleagues and me several times ever since I signed up for vocational training. There are two other Becks Prime locations my work could be eating at, but they are several miles farther away. It's the second such casualty in that area that I can recall, since the Red Robin that was so close that we could just walk over there.

https://www.houstonchronicle.com/news/houston-texas/trending/article/becks-prime-close-houston-wilcrest-restaurant-35-21336030.php

#GreaterHouston #Houston #restaurantClosure

Two much‑loved Llanelli restaurants close on the same day as customers share heartbreak

The Bryngwyn in Pwll, a family‑run favourite for more than 20 years, told customers this afternoon that its temporary January shutdown would now become permanent. The restaurant had closed on New Year’s Day, blaming rising costs and a quiet start to the year, but today confirmed it would not reopen.

The announcement triggered a wave of emotion online, with more than 200 comments from customers sharing memories of birthdays, anniversaries and family gatherings held at the restaurant.

Joanne Palmer said her family had enjoyed “so many lovely meals” over the last decade, recalling how staff were “amazing” when they celebrated her father’s 80th birthday. Sarah Jayne Davies described The Bryngwyn as one of her family’s “favourite places”, while Teresa Kelly said it had been “a big part of Pwll for many years”.

Others spoke of the personal significance the venue held. Carla Walters said it had been her late mother’s favourite restaurant, with every family celebration held there. “It’s an end of an era for our family,” she wrote. “You will be missed.”

But in a double blow for the town’s hospitality scene, long‑established Indian restaurant Ali Raj also confirmed its closure today — marking the end of 26 years in business. The owners posted a simple video of the lights being switched off for the final time.

The reaction was immediate and heartfelt. Keith Thomas said he was “absolutely gutted”, calling Ali Raj his go‑to place for a fantastic meal. Jeff Evans described it as an “awesome restaurant” with attentive staff, while Sandra Davies said it had felt like “a second home”.

Many customers spoke of decades of memories. Eileen Milligan thanked the team for “happy memories” and friendships formed over the years. Alma Davies said she had been going there for 26 years, calling it her favourite Indian restaurant. Cheryl North said she and her family had been regulars since the first weeks of opening, becoming close friends with the owners.

The closures come amid mounting pressure on the hospitality sector, with rising costs, staffing challenges and changing customer habits hitting independent businesses across Wales. For many in Llanelli, today’s announcements mark the loss of two venues that shaped family traditions, celebrations and community life.

As customers continue to share memories and messages of thanks, both restaurants leave behind loyal followings — and a sense that a chapter of Llanelli’s dining scene has come to an end.

‘Eclectic’ Scottish restaurant to close down after 28 years amid ‘soaring’ operating costs

A family-run restaurant that has been open for 28 years will close down at the end of the month. Maison Bleue, located on Edinburgh’s Victoria Street, will be…
#dining #cooking #diet #food #Frenchfood #francais #france #French #frenchfood #restaurantclosure #scottish #Topstories
https://www.diningandcooking.com/2458677/eclectic-scottish-restaurant-to-close-down-after-28-years-amid-soaring-operating-costs/

Popular restaurant in heart of Edinburgh to close after 28 years

MAISON Bleue, a popular French restaurant in Edinburgh’s historic Old Town is set to c…
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https://www.diningandcooking.com/2458099/popular-restaurant-in-heart-of-edinburgh-to-close-after-28-years/

Beasley’s Chicken + Honey Is Closing: An Iconic Downtown Raleigh Restaurant Says Goodbye

RIP to another Downtown Raleigh staple. One of the city’s most beloved restaurants, Beasley’s Chicken + Honey, has announced it will permanently close its doors on January 25, marking the end of an era for Raleigh’s food scene.

The news was shared today in an email sent directly to customers, confirming that the restaurant—located at the corner of South Wilmington Street and East Martin Street—will soon serve its final plates of fried chicken, waffles, and honey-drizzled comfort food.

A Downtown Raleigh Institution

For more than a decade, Beasley’s Chicken + Honey has been a cornerstone of Downtown Raleigh dining. Anchoring a high-traffic corner just steps from Moore Square, the restaurant became a go-to destination for:

Brunch crowds and weekend visitors First-time visitors looking for “classic Raleigh” Locals celebrating milestones, meetings, and memories

Its casual, welcoming vibe paired with elevated Southern comfort food helped define the modern Downtown Raleigh restaurant boom of the 2010s.

The Vision of Ashley Christensen

Beasley’s Chicken + Honey is part of the acclaimed restaurant group led by James Beard Award–winning chef Ashley Christensen, whose impact on Raleigh’s culinary identity is impossible to overstate.

Christensen’s restaurants didn’t just feed the city—they helped shape it. Beasley’s, in particular, stood out for its approachable menu, consistent quality, and ability to feel both iconic and neighborhood-friendly at the same time.

Closing Date Confirmed

Final service date: January 25 Status: Permanent closure Announcement: Shared via customer email

As of now, no additional details have been released about what will replace Beasley’s in the space, though the announcement encouraged customers to “stay tuned for what’s next.”

Another Loss for Downtown Raleigh

Beasley’s closure adds to a growing list of long-running Downtown Raleigh restaurants that have closed in recent years, reflecting shifting economic pressures, changing dining habits, and ongoing redevelopment across the city core.

For many Raleigh residents, this isn’t just a restaurant closing—it’s the loss of a shared community space that helped define Downtown’s identity for more than ten years.

One Last Visit

If Beasley’s Chicken + Honey has been part of your Raleigh story, there’s still time to stop by before the doors close for good. Whether it’s one final brunch or a farewell plate of fried chicken, January 25 marks the end—but also a chance to say thank you.

We’ll continue to follow updates on what’s next for the space and for Ashley Christensen’s restaurant group as more information becomes available.

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