Chef Thomas Carr will not reopen his Michelin-starred eponymous restaurant at the Olive Room, he has announced.

But the chef said his business in Ilfracombe, north Devon, isn’t over.

Instead, Carr has plans to open elsewhere. He said: “We can’t give away too much information yet, but we would like to reassure you that it will still be here in beautiful Ilfracombe.

“We have faced many of the same challenges as other restaurants in town, but we have also had to contend with issues around our future in our current location.

“It’s taken a lot of deliberating, but we have taken the decision to not re-open the Olive Room.

“It’s not a decision that’s been taken lightly, and we have had some wonderful times at 56 Fore Street, however we now have a new opportunity which means we can grow as a business and move on to the next chapter.”

Diners will hope Carr’s new spot brings back his exceptional food – and, possibly, surroundings improve.