Giorgio Locatelli has closed his Marylebone flagship after 23 years, indicating that the decision was forced on him and that he has no plans to quit the London restaurant scene.

The tousle-haired Italian chef and his wife Plaxy opened Locanda Locatelli 23 years ago in the Hyatt Regency – Churchill hotel, off Portman Square. The restaurant quickly established itself as one of the prime high-end dining establishments in town, famously entertaining luminaries of the era including Bill Clinton and Tony Blair.

The new 2025 Harden’s guide praises the “sophisticated” Italian cuisine and “buzzy atmosphere” that still drew an appreciative crowd to the venue, despite growing criticism of the high prices.

The closure was announced via a social-media post reading: “With a Heavy heart, for reasons out of our control, we are now permanently closed. We will miss all of our clients, many who have become friends. But when one door closes, another opens, so please check our social media for updates on our new project”.