A MICHELIN-LISTED restaurant named in the UK’s top 10 dining spots is set to close its doors in a matter of days.
The owners revealed the closure earlier this year, saying that “goodbyes aren’t easy”.
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A Michelin guide restaurant will be closing its doors at the end of this month Credit: The Water House project
The East London spot is known for its fine dining tasting menu Credit: The Water House project
The Water House project, known for its exceptional tasting menu, is set to close down at the end of this month.
Located in Bethnal Green, East London, the popular fine dining spot first opened in 2021 and is run by chef Gabriel Waterhouse and Patricia Wakaimba.
The restaurant previously began with a small supper club and pop-up events before moving to a permanent spot on Corbridge Crescent.
It earned a spot on the Michelin guide, with the restaurant rating platform calling the modern British restaurant a place where “you just know you’re going to have a good time”.
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The owners revealed the news via social media saying “goodbyes aren’t easy” Credit: The Water House project
The closure coincides with the ending of the restaurants lease Credit: The Water House project
The Water House project serves up modern British fine dining through two tasting menus Credit: The Water House project
Owned by chef Gabriel Waterhouse, the tasting menus also come with alcoholic or non-alcoholic pairings Credit: The Water House project
News of the closure was announced on the restaurant’s social media pages, with the decision to shutter the location coinciding with the end of the site’s lease.
The owners said it felt like the “right moment to turn the page” but that “goodbyes aren’t easy”.
The post read: “While change can be a good thing, goodbyes aren’t easy.
“Looking back on the past five years here makes us incredibly proud.
“We’ve loved our time on Corbridge Crescent and have poured ourselves completely into this space.
“We always hoped to create something that felt different, a space that was honest, warm, and somewhere both we and our team could truly be ourselves.
“Restaurants are wonderfully special, rewarding places, they can be joyful, creative, generous and honest, with an enduring connection that lies not only in food but also in how they make us feel.”
Comments from loyal customers poured in under the post, with many saying how much the beloved dining spot will be missed and wishing the team the best for any plans.
While there is no news on what may come next for The Water House project, the letter to customers on social media did say the goodbye came “with a great deal of gratitude for what has been and excitement for what’s to come”.
Focused on pairing the “elegance of fine dining” with a “relaxed, genuinely welcoming atmosphere”, The Water House project serves up seasonal tasting menus taking inspiration from the British Isles.
The restaurant offers two distinct tasting menus for customers to explore: the Discovery menu for £100 per person featuring 11 servings, and the signature menu costing £125 per person with around 14 dishes.
Guests can also choose an alcoholic or non-alcoholic pairing to go with their meal for an additional cost.
Dishes are served at the same time in the small restaurant, which the restaurant believes creates an experience similar to a chef’s table style of dining.
Chef Gabriel Waterhouse began his career in the culinary industry aged just 23, and has worked at a number of high-profile restaurants, including Galvin La Chapelle, Innholders Hall, Lyle’s, The Clove Club, The Ritz Restaurant and Le Manoir aux Quat’Saisons.
The Waterhouse Project evolved from a series of twice-weekly supper clubs Waterhouse would operate from his home.
The restaurant has received glowing reviews from both critics and customers, with visitors praising the “fantastic” food, incredible service, and despite its higher price point, they say it’s “worth every penny”.
Earlier this year, the restaurant announced in an Instagram post that they’d been named one of the Top 10 restaurants in England by the 360° Eat Guide.
