Closure of Brian Maule at Glasgow's Le Chardon d'Or a ‘sad loss for the city'

Fine dining restaurant Brian Maule at Le Chardon d'Or in Glasgow has closed after 22 years of trading, after it revealed the business can "no longer be sustained" under industry pressures.

Posting the news on its Facebook page over the weekend (22 July), the team said: "We have tried so hard to fight against the financial burden of the ‘new normal' we live in, but it has forced our hand – for now – with immediate effect.

"Surviving through Covid, then spiralling into a cost of living crisis, increased home working, plunging property values, lack of support for the hospitality sector. All these damaging factors, plus many more have weighed heavily on us, we have tried so hard to see it through – for our fantastic team, whom we feel so sorry, but also for the city that we have been part of for the last 22 years, our business simply can no longer be sustained under all these pressures."

The board of the restaurant added Le Chardon d'Or came to the "inescapable conclusion" to close as a result of the "substantial reduction in restaurant business and a depression in property values" following the pandemic.

"It's a sad loss for the city…[Brian Maule] is a talent that should not be lost," the board said.

Responding to the news, Chez Bruce in London's Clapham tweeted: "Very sad. Brian's a top bloke and a top chef. I wish him and the wider team the very best with whatever comes next."

Michel Roux Jr also commented: "Very sad indeed, 22 years of blood sweat and tears gone down the drain, energy prices, food inflation, interest rates, draconian Covid rules, Brexit all playing it's part but what's criminal is the lack of help from UKG."

Maule opened Le Chardon d'Or in 2001 and served seasonal dishes sourced from Scottish suppliers, such as fillet of Scotch lamb, confit bons bons, crushed peas and mint jus, and tart tartin of apple, vanilla ice-cream and butterscotch sauce.

Photo: https://www.brianmaule.com/