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Bibendum, the bona fide London food institution with a fine-dining powerhouse at the helm, has closed.
The Claude Bosi-bossed restaurant announced the closure of the South Kensington mainstay on Instagram, writing: ‘Despite our very best efforts, we were unable to reach a resolution with our partners and landlords that would allow Michelin House to move into its next chapter... It has been an honour to be part of the Michelin House story, and a privilege to share that journey with you.’
Bibendum, which was in the glorious Michelin House on Fulham Road, was taken over by French chef Bosi in 2017. It was named after the ‘Michelin man’ AKA Bibendum, who features prominently on the Grade II-listed building's vintage stained glass windows. The Michelin company left the art deco building in the 1980s, and was turned into a restaurant by Sir Terence Conran in 1987.
Bibendum gained its two Michelin stars less than a year after Bosi took over. Over the past few years Bosi has been pretty prolific, as well as Bibendum he launched the double Michelin-starred Brooklands at The Peninsula London by Hyde Park, and opened two branches of his Josephine bouchon in Chelsea and Marylebone.
Of Bibendum, Time Out wrote: ‘Bibendum remains London’s nattiest and most heart-warmingly pleasurable dining room – although über-chef Bosi is putting his own dizzyingly technical and dazzlingly creative stamp on proceedings. Prices are unnervingly high, but the food is overwhelmingly excellent – so go on, blow the budget and prepare to be blown away.’ It will be missed.
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