Jesse Dunford Wood closes Harvest after one year

Jesse Dunford Wood has closed his Harvest restaurant in London’s Kensal Rise after one year of trading.

The chef, who is also behind the Parlour and Six Portland Road restaurants in the capital, announced the decision on social media over the weekend.

He said that although Harvest had been “a career-defining project” it had struggled with a lack of consistent trade.

He wrote: “We created a beautiful restaurant – the remodelling of the space, the interiors and details were such a considered effort.

“We cooked wonderful food and incredible drinks – great staff – literally a career-defining project for me. I have worked towards this over the last 25 years in hospitality.

“We tried really hard to make it work, we were patient, kept the dream alive, stuck to the vision, we did great often, but sadly we were not consistently busy enough.”

Dunford Wood launched Harvest in a former curry house in Kensal Village last year, serving an all-day menu with a focus on vegetarian dishes.

He added: “Over the last week, as we closed the business, tears were shed, building emptied, staff relocated, people informed. It has been a complex week.

“We will move on to better, greater things I am sure – but let’s take a moment to admire, remember and salut all that we created.”

Dunford Wood added that both Parlour and Six Portland Road remained in a strong position and had a “bright future”.