Gordon Ramsay's former right hand man Mark Sargeant has announced the closure of Brasserie MS

Alex South

Editor

Michelin-starred chef Mark Sargeant, who worked wtih Gordon Ramsay for 13 years, has announced his Brasserie MS restaurant in Folkestone will close after less than a year of trading.

Mark made the shock announcement via a post on Instagram, with the chef saying that had "no choice" but to shut the business in the face of difficult trading conditions.

Announcing to his followers, Mark said: "It is with great sadness that I am announcing the closing of the Brasserie MS. I want to thank all of my wonderful customers, employees and suppliers for supporting me since I opened as I could not have done it without all of you.

He added: "I am extremely humbled by everyone who enjoyed my local Brasserie experience and it is with much regret that I am not able to continue any longer and become a neighbourhood favourite in Folkestone.”

The chef who spent 13 years working with Gordon Ramsay and won the National Chef of the Year award in 2002, explained tough trading and disagreements with the restaurant’s backers had fuelled the decision.

Mark said: "This is not an easy decision that has been taken lightly but today's tough trading conditions and the uncertain future have simply left me no choice but to turn the lights off and close the doors of the Brasserie MS. I opened to rave reviews in August, but sadly my backers don't share my same vision of restaurant excellence!"

The chef added that all staff and suppliers would be paid and any bookings who had pre-paid would be compensated and contacted "as a matter of urgency".

The closure of Brasserie MS comes a month after Michelin announced the restaurant would be included in its 2023 Great Britain and Ireland Guide, though it was not confirmed if it would receive a star, Bib Gourmand or Green Star sustainability award.

Mark previously ran Kent-based hospitality business Rocksalt Group before he stepped down from the group in 2021.

Background and working with gordon ramsay

After graduating West Kent College in 1991, Mark worked for a number of restaurants in London and the South East, including venues in the Gordon Ramsay restaurants London offering.

In 1997, Mark started working for the Gordon Ramsay restaurant Aubergine before spending three years working as a sous chef at the three Michelin-starred Restaurant Gordon Ramsay in Chelsea.

After impressing Gordon, Mark opened opened the highly acclaimed Gordon Ramsay at Claridge's where he was Chef de Cuisine from 2001 to 2008, which earned a Michelin star in 2002.

Mark has worked for a number of Gordon Ramsay restaurants and oversaw the openings of the Gordon Ramsay Holdings pubs including The Narrow, The Warrington, The Devonshire and The Foxtrot Oscar.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mark Sargeant (@marksargey10)

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