High-profile Lancashire chef Andrew Nutter is closing his restaurant Nutters, near Rochdale, on Sunday after what he describes as “28 magnificent years”. He is planning to go out in style, with a series of ‘Last Supper’ evenings next week for fans.

He said in statement: “It has been a difficult decision to make but these last two years have been extremely challenging when the hospitality industry has a whole has suffered immensely. We wanted to go out whilst we are still at the top of our game and it has been increasingly difficult to do that in these times. Not to mention the fact that Jean [his mother, who runs the front of house] isn’t getting any younger.”

Nutter trained in classical French cuisine at the Savoy in London and returned to his home county to open the restaurant with his parents, Jean and the late Rodney, at the age of 21, taking over Wolstenholme Hall, a gothic Manor House in six acres of parkland, in 2003. The restaurant thrived for many years and was described as “consistently excellent” in the latest edition of the Harden’s guide, while Andrew reached a wider public through regular TV appearances, including his own show ‘Utter Nutter’,

It is understood that Jim Ramsbottom of Albert’s Restaurants, which has four venues around Manchester, is in negotiation to buy the restaurant, while Andrew, still only 50, is considering options including work as a high-end private chef. The Nutters retain their nearby gastropub, the Bird at Birtle.