Koya to close on 31 May
Japanese restaurant Koya, in London's Frith Street, is to close its doors for the last time on 31 May.
The move comes after chef Junya Yamasaki decided to return to Japan, having cooked there for five years.
Koya Bar next door at 50 Frith Street will remain open.
In a statement, company director John Devitt said: "While we would like Koya to stay open indefinitely as an extension of Junya's vision, we feel it will be a derivative that would not be fair to our customers. Koya has been a terrific journey for us all and we do not want that to be diminished.
"I personally would like to thank Junya for everything he has put in to Koya, opening back in April 2010, his continued dedication driving Koya forward and especially the treat that was The BackBench over the past 12 months. Junya is a special talent, I wish him the best for the future and I hope to see Junya return to London soon."
It is not yet clear what will become of the Koya site.
Japanese restaurant Koya set to open Koya Bar next to original site >>