Michelin-starred chef to close popular restaurant for months ahead of huge revamp with new ‘flexible menu' in shake-up
The restaurant is closing while its award-winning chef plans a huge revamp of the eatery with a new 'flexible menu'.
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Sō–lō was awarded its first Michelin star in 2023, in recognition of its incredible cooking.
Its owners, Tim Allen and his wife Mag, first took over the eatery in 2021 and the restaurant soon landed on the UK's Top 100 list.
Based in Ormskirk, Lancashire, it became famous for its delicious Sunday lunch service.
However, the restaurant will be closing its doors on July 27 as it undergoes a major revamp.
It will remain closed until early November when it will reopen with a very different menu.
Ahead of the closure, Tim has said: "This marks a really exciting stage in sō–lō's - and our own - journey.
"The time is right to invest further in the business, enhance the offering here at sō–lō and build upon the reputation we have.
"We want to be able to offer a stronger dining experience.
"The sō–lō people know and love will still be here - relaxed, welcoming and ingredient-led - but with a more modern, crisp, fresh new look."
He is remaining tight-lipped about the refurbishment, though he has said that there will be a new chef's table.
Restaurant chain owned by Michelin-starred chef is on brink of collapse 16 years after it first opened
Tim has also confirmed that the restaurant will continue to serve its à la carte lunch menu and award-winning Sunday lunch when it reopens.
The Michelin -starred chef did drop some hints about the new menu though.
He said: "Flavour will always be at the forefront of what we do, but we are mixing things up a little.
"We'll also be offering a more casual, and shorter, tasting menu style experience which showcases outstanding ingredients, our passion for produce and imaginative dishes."
The news comes after several major Michelin-starred restaurants have been forced to close.
La Dame de Pic closed suddenly in February, alongside fellow French restaurant Café Lapérouse.
Both restaurants were located in Central London, with La Goccia - another luxury restaurant in the capital - also closing.
La Goccia's owners blamed Covid and Brexit for the closure, saying that both factors left them unable to hire trained staff.
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