12 great London restaurants that closed for good this summer

Lots of wonderful new restaurants have opened over the past few months, from the lovely Lupa and Lai Rai in June, to Elephant in Clapton, Shanghai Me in Mayfair and the new Notting Hill branch of Speedboat Bar last month, with loads more set for August.

But let’s take a minute to pour one out for those that have left us this summer. Here’s some of the restaurants and bars that we’re going to miss.

London restaurants that closed in summer 2025

1. Bruno’s, Islington

Opened at the end of 2022 by brothers Fin and Lorcan Spiteri, you could find Bruno’s bobbing alongside its sister restaurant Caravel on the Regent's Canal, but this barge bar has sadly served its last waterborne cocktail. A fond farewell to their Starliner Martini - a turbo Espresso Martini with tequila and chocolate liqueur which left us unable to sleep until 3am. 

2. Chick ‘n’ Sours, Haggerston and Covent Garden 

The last two remaining Chick ‘n’ Sours spots closed in May. The Korean fried chicken joint was known for its excellent sour cocktails, ultra-crispy chicken and addictive seaweed ‘crack’ seasoning. The owners explained that running two restaurants in London was no longer financially viable. But all is not lost, the brand will continue its residencies at the Roof East and Corner Corner food halls.

3. Norman’s, Archway 

Some loved it, some hated it, but it doesn’t really matter now, because Norman’s is no more. The gentrified greasy spoon opened in Archway in 2020, beginning life as a sandwich shop before evolving into a caff, serving classic British favourites and childhood comfort meals from kippers on toast to jam roly-poly. It closed in June.

4. Lyle’s, Shoreditch

This one was a bit of a shocker. After 11 years, James Lowe’s excellent Michelin star restaurant closed at the end of May. Before opening Lyle’s in 2014, Lowe was head chef at St John Bread & Wine. Lyle’s won its Michelin star in 2015 and retained it for the following decade thanks to its quality seasonal British cuisine. 

5. Victor Garvey at the Midland Grand, King’s Cross

We’re not quite sure what happened here. Victor Garvey of Soho’s Michelin-starred Sola took over this glamorous dining room at the start of the year and by July it was dead as a dodo. The glitzy space was home to Marcus Wareing’s The Gilbert Scott for a decade until the pandemic. It was then in the hands of Patrick Powell, who left in 2024. A cursed restaurant? Who knows. 

6. Soif, Battersea Rise 

This much-loved wine bar and nibbly bits bistro shut at the end of July. An atmospheric local’s favourite, it started life as an offshoot of the now also-departed Covent Garden wine bar Terroirs. 

7. Mr Ji, Camden

This Taiwanese fried chicken hub moved from Soho to Camden in 2022. ‘With the ongoing rises in business costs and running a restaurant, we have now joined the many restaurants that have now closed their doors,’ they said before closing in July. 

8. Officina 00, Old Street, Covent Garden and Fitzrovia

Three branches of this pasta restaurant closed in June. The Covent Garden branch only opened in March. ‘I have done everything in my power to overcome the many challenges faced in the last few months, but despite all efforts I have been forced to close down,’ commented co-owner Elia Sebregondi.

9. Margot, Covent Garden

Rising business rates were also the reason behind the closure of this plush Italian restaurant. Opening in 2016, Margot lasted almost a decade before shutting up shop in June.

10. Goodman, Canary Wharf

After 15 years, this far-flung steakhouse in east London has closed. The Mayfair and City locations remain open if you’d like to splurge a silly amount of money on meat.

11. Pizzeria Mozza, Fitzrovia

The London outpost of US chef Nancy Silverton’s restaurant closed in June. On the ground floor of the Treehouse London hotel on Langham Place, Mozza opened in 2021. The space will be reopening in September as Richoux, the returning all-day French cafe which closed during lockdown. 

12. Jeru, Mayfair

After four years, this fancy Mayfair restaurant shuts on August 6. The Mediterranean-inspired menu specialised in line-caught day boat fish and had a dry-aged beef and wagyu cabinet.

The best new London restaurant openings in August 2025. 

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