City fine-dining restaurant closes unexpectedly

Farmyard had been on St Benedicts since 2017

A fine-dining restaurant has unexpectedly closed after seven years, with the owners appearing to blame the "climate for hospitality".

Farmyard, on St Benedicts Street, Norwich, had garnered culinary awards and was praised for its "commendable ambition" by Guardian food critic Jay Rayner.

But the restaurant, run by husband and wife Andrew and Hannah Jones, did not reopen after the weekend of 8 and 9 June, with the building cleared of fixtures, fittings and signs this week.

A post on the restaurant's Facebook page on Wednesday announced the closure, adding: "We’d like to think we will reopen our lovely restaurant again one day, perhaps when the climate for hospitality is more stable."

It added: "We’d like to thank all of our wonderful customers, epic suppliers and the incredible team members we’ve worked with over the last seven years."

The post added they would be "passionately channelling our efforts" into its dine-at-home business, Farmyard Frozen.

Most comments on the post expressed sadness that the "beloved" restaurant had closed, with a couple of people pointing out the lack of warning, particularly as they had gift vouchers.

It is understood customers and suppliers continued to turn up at the restaurant after it had closed.

The couple also ran The Dial House in Reepham, which went into liquidation last year, according to Companies House.

Other independent restaurants in Norwich which have closed in recent months include Erpingham House, Woolf & Social and The Tipsy Vegan.

Mr and Mrs Jones have been contacted by the BBC for comment.