The Hawksmoor group has suffered its first public reverse with the announcement that the Stoke Newington branch of its Foxlow spinoff will close for business on January 14.

The closure comes just weeks before the main Hawksmoor brand is scheduled to open its eighth branch in the prestigious location of Borough Market in Southwark.

Founders Huw Gott and Will Beckett opened their first Hawksmoor in 2006, making them pioneers in the modern red-meat market. Steady growth for a decade has seen expansion into Manchester, with New York slated to follow.

The more budget-conscious Foxlow mini-chain has branches in the City, Chiswick and Balham, with the latest Harden’s Survey finding them “reliable and solid” at best, if “disappointing” at worst.

Beckett said the closure would take place “with integrity”, with all bills paid and staff looked after properly. He hoped many would remain with the group.

“We’re not making any excuses about the wider trading environment or anything else – we made a couple of poor decisions and just didn’t get everything as right here as we thankfully have at all our other restaurants.”