La Gousse folds wings for last time

La Gousse d'Ail restaurant in Oxford has been placed in the hands of administrators. The news follows persistent denials by owner Jonathan Wright that it had closed for good.

He had said the restaurant had shut for a three-week summer holiday and a refurbishment of its boilers, and was to reopen on 14 July.

But it failed to do so and, last week, Rod Butcher and Nigel Price, of Birmingham-based Moore Stephens Corporate Recovery, were appointed joint administrators for the business.

The restaurant, owned by Wright and his wife Jayne, opened less than two years ago after a £1m refurbishment of the premises, formerly the Lemon Tree brasserie.

Wright said that business had been affected by the foot-and-mouth crisis and the 11 September terrorist attacks. He said: "Our trade was badly affected and, as a fairly new business, we did not have enough working capital to fall back on to tide us over this time."

Butcher said: "We are optimistic that we will be able to find a buyer."

by Louise Bozec

Source: Caterer & Hotelkeeper magazine, 8-14 August 2002