Keith Boyle at The Bridge House, a fine dining restaurant in Kilkenny, has closed less than four months after opening.
Executive head chef Keith Boyle and his wife Carmel Boyle, the restaurant manager and sommelier, received a termination notice during their probation period.
The Bridge House, consisting of a restaurant and 12 bedrooms, is owned by the Neville Group of hotels. It had recently reopened after a €2m investment following a fire in 2018. The Neville Group owns several other hotels in Ireland.
The restaurant had received positive reviews and was favourably mentioned by the Michelin Guide. It offered a tasting menu priced at €120 for dinner and €80 for lunch.
It is the fifth closure or rededication of a high end restaurant signalled this month:
- In Belfast Michael Deane is to close his flagship Eipic, which has been open for 26 years, winning a Michelin star within its first year and retaining it, at the end of 2023, citing rising costs and changing customer preferences.
- Takashi Miyazaki of Ichigo Ichie in Cork announced on social media that his Michelin star kaiseki restaurant will transform into “a casual bistro style restaurant” form January, specialising in teuchi soba (handmade buckweat noodle dishes).
- Clanbrassil House in Dublin 8, owned by Barry Fitzgerald and Claremarie Thomas, will close on December 23rd, having opened six years ago.
- Park Café in Ballsbridge, Dublin 4, owned by Irish chef and restaurateur Richard Corrigan, is to close at the end of 2023.
