Michelin-starred restaurant Purnell's closes

A Michelin-starred restaurant in Birmingham, which became famous for its contemporary seasonal food, has closed.

Glynn Purnell, who opened Purnell's in July 2007, said he was "heartbroken", but also proud of what he achieved.

The restaurant earned its Michelin star in 2008 and he said it had been "a roaring success from day one".

But he added: "Things have moved on, and times have changed. In this current climate, no-one is bulletproof."

The restaurant served its final customers on Saturday and Mr Purnell said he would now devote his time to his two other establishments, Plates by Purnell’s on Edmund Street in Birmingham and The Mount by Glynn Purnell in Henley-in-Arden.

He said Purnell's had been going through "a really tough time" and had seen bookings fall by more than 20%.

The chef, who turns 50 in January, said he had seen footfall in Birmingham city centre fall too, which he blamed on a number of factors.

He said the cost of parking, traffic caused by building work, the city's clean air zone and a fear of demonstrations had discouraged people from visiting.

He also said be believed there were "younger people coming in this city who are not looking for this sort of dining experience".

Mr Purnell said he was not seeking sympathy, because he knew many other restaurants were also suffering, but he said it had "just come to a point where it’s not sustainable for me to continue".

Mr Purnell also worried about the ability of independent restaurants to compete with big chains and said there was a "wave of greed spreading across this country".

He said he feared independent chefs like himself might be put off from opening city-centre restaurants as a result.

But despite that, he said: "I still want to cook and I still love what I do."

Mr Purnell trained with Gordon Ramsay, Gary Rhodes and Claude Bosi, and said: "Purnell’s has been a place where I have had the privilege of working with some of the greatest talent I’ve ever known."

He said many had gone on to work in top restaurants all over the world and thanked everyone who had worked with him over the years.

"I have always had a team who are like family to me, who have worked with creativity, passion and enthusiasm to make Purnell’s the success it has been for 17 years," he said.

He also hinted there could be more to come and said: "I’m excited for the future and the next steps in my journey. This isn’t the last you’ve heard of the Yummy Brummie."

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