Dinner by Heston Blumenthal to close in 2027

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park will close in January 2027, bringing to an end one of London’s most distinctive fine dining restaurants after 16 years.

The closure was confirmed by Heston Blumenthal, where the chef reflected on the concept that defined the restaurant: exploring historic British gastronomy and presenting it to a modern audience.

Opening in 2011, Dinner by Heston Blumenthal quickly became one of the capital’s most celebrated restaurants, earning two Michelin stars and building a reputation for dishes inspired by centuries-old recipes reimagined through contemporary technique.

The news was broken by an interview by Heston with The Times, before he also shared a social media statement.

Heston said the project had begun with a deep dive into the country’s culinary history.

He said: “Sixteen years ago, me and my team went down a new rabbit hole and set up a new restaurant – Dinner by Heston Blumenthal at Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park.

“It was inspired by a simple idea: to explore historical British food and bring it to a new audience.”

Heston explained that the team had worked closely with historians and archives to research historic manuscripts and forgotten dishes.

“We visited libraries and historians and pored over all manner of manuscripts, searching for recipes with the right blend of culinary creativity and playfulness,” he said.

“We discovered a wonderland of dishes with wonderful names – powdered duck, ragoo of pigs’ ears, tipsy cake and, of course, meat fruit.”

The now iconic meat fruit – a chicken liver parfait disguised as a mandarin – became one of the restaurant’s defining dishes and a symbol of Heston’s playful approach to food.

A restaurant built on history and imagination

Dinner by Heston Blumenthal stood apart from the chef’s other projects through its focus on historic British cuisine.

While Heston built his reputation at The Fat Duck in Bray with experimental gastronomy and multi-sensory dining, Dinner offered a more classical yet still inventive interpretation of British cooking.

Dishes on the menu drew inspiration from recipes dating as far back as the 14th century, including powdered duck (inspired by a medieval recipe) and tipsy cake, a dish rooted in 19th-century British culinary tradition.

Despite its historical foundation, the restaurant became one of London’s most modern dining experiences, attracting both international visitors and industry figures.

The restaurant has held two Michelin stars for much of its life and became widely regarded as one of the capital’s landmark restaurants.

Final service planned for January 2027

Heston confirmed that Dinner will serve its final guests in early 2027.

He said: “In January 2027, we will welcome our final guests in London.

“Over the year ahead, we will celebrate everything Dinner has been and invite you to experience it with us one last time.”

The announcement gives diners more than a year to visit the restaurant before its closure, with the team planning a final year of celebrations for the concept and its legacy.