'Not fit for purpose' town hall restaurant closes

The owners of the restaurant said Wokingham Town Hall was "not fit for purpose"

A restaurant in Wokingham Town Hall has announced it will close after claims the site is "not fit for purpose".

Fare Eatery opened in the Grade 2 listed building in late October, serving British cuisine in the town centre.

It was set up by restaurant consultancy firm Truffle Hunting, led by ex-Fat Duck director Nigel Sutcliffe and former Young Chef of the Year James McLean.

Less than two months after opening, management announced it would be temporarily closing its doors from Christmas Eve.

It said the current state of the building was "simply not fit for purpose", which has been an "ongoing challenge" for the owners.

This has meant it's "not comfortable, air conditioned or suitably heated" for guests, a statement released by the restaurant said.

The building, dating back to 1860, sits in the centre of Wokingham town, and has been home to restaurants including Rynd and the town council previously.

The statement added: "The hospitality industry is in crisis and independent restaurants are struggling to stay afloat.

"As local residents we have invested heavily into our small business, substantially more than we have earned, pushing to create and maintain careers for local people.

"Our landlord will need to work with us over the coming months to address these issues."

A spokesperson from Wokingham Town Council said the authority "recognises the challenging environment that the hospitality industry faces at present, and the cost pressures businesses face".

Fare management said they hope to reopen the restaurant in 2025.