Who is chef Ritchie Stainsby MasterChef: The Professionals 2024 contestant?
Masterchef: The Professionals contestant announces restaurant closure after eight years
A Masterchef: The Professionals contestant has announced that his award-winning restaurant is closing after eight years of service.
No.Twelve, an award-winning plant based restaurant in Nottingham, will close in May later this year.
Founded in 2017 by husband and wife duo Lauren Stainsby and Ritchie Stainsby, No.Twelve is dedicated to serving beautiful artisan plates of food using locally sourced produce.
Despite not having formal culinary training, Ritchie worked his way up in various kitchens, including Jamie’s Italian, before opening No.Twelve and appearing on MasterChef: The Professionals.
Read more: Who is Chef Ritchie Stainsby, MasterChef: The Professionals 2024 contestant?
The restaurant received several awards, including the Food Awards England's 'Best Vegan Establishment' and the Good Food Awards' Blue Ribbon and Gold Seal.
Ritchie said: “After 8 incredible years, the time has come for No.Twelve to close its doors on May 31st, 2025. This isn’t the news we ever wanted to share, but circumstances beyond our control mean this chapter must come to an end.
“No.Twelve has been more than just a restaurant - it’s been our passion, our home, and a space where we’ve shared unforgettable moments with all of you. But rather than focus on the sadness, we want to celebrate everything we’ve built together.
“Bookings are now open until our final day. Its hard to put into words how much this place means to us. We've had so many wonderful members of staff, we don’t want this to be a time of sadness, we want this to be a celebration of what we’ve worked on these last 12 years.
“We don’t know what the future holds for us, but we do know that we will still be here in some way. It will always be part of our lives, and we hope it will be part of yours.”
Speaking during his MasterChef career, Ritchie added: "I think plant-based dishes can often be associated with ‘junk food’ and ‘dirty vegan’ style burgers and fries. My focus is combining classic techniques with modern cuisines.
"I wanted to offer a luxurious experience where seasonal vegetables are the stars of the show, not just to cater for a dietary choice. My influences span across rustic Italian, classic French and Japanese cooking, focusing on seasonality of ingredients and how best to use them. I’ve spent the last few years developing my skills throughout fermentation and other techniques.
"Food and music are my passions, even better if they go hand in hand. As a trained musician, I've been in numerous bands throughout my life, along with lots of different haircuts to suit! Food used to be my hobby and music my job, but I'm enjoying things the other way around.”
No.Twelve will close on May 31, 2025.
Written by Abi Kinsella
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Masterchef: The Professionals contestant announces restaurant closure after eight years
