Ramsay's Fleur and Amaryllis to close?

[MobyP]

From Andy:

"Just had it confirmed that Ramsay's Fleur restaurant has ceased trading due to "problems with renewing the lease". This came via a friend who tried to book and was told the news by the receptionist. It is also rumoured that Amaryliss is to close soon (that is just a rumour, but has some credibility in light of Fleur).

I have contacted Sauce Communications, Ramsay's PR for futher info but have not had a response as yet."

[Andy Lynes]

Just got this short statement from Sauce :

"I can confirm that Fleur has closed. The lease expired this January and Gordon Ramsay Holdings was unable to renegotiate a new lease in time so unfortunately Fleur ceased trading as of Friday 2nd January."

[howardlong]

It is also rumoured that Amaryliss is to close soon (that is just a rumour, but has some credibility in light of Fleur).

A great shame if Amaryllis closes. I have had two most memorable dinners in there over the past year or so. Most fun was the second time I went when I was recognised by a waiter who ran the Chef's Table when he was working down south at the Connaught. I am sure I will be corrected, but this for me is/was _the_ best restaurant in Glasgow.

[Andy Lynes]

Jo at Sauce says: "The Amaryllis rumour is untrue. The Glasgow restaurant is definitely open and there are no plans that I am aware of to close it."

[Andy Lynes]

The Telegraph's London Spy has some more details.

[Andy Lynes]

Amaryllis has closed.

[Andy Lynes]

Here is a statement from Gordon Ramsay regarding the closure :

"Gordon Ramsay Holdings and Citrus Restaurants have announced the closure of Amaryllis, Gordon Ramsay’s restaurant at One Devonshire Gardens in Glasgow from Wednesday 14th January 2004. There are at present no plans to reopen.

The decision to close Amaryllis was reluctantly taken by Gordon and Citrus Hotels at the end of 2003.

Gordon Ramsay commented yesterday,

"I am sad to be closing Amaryllis after nearly three years. It was my only UK restaurant outside London and was dear to my heart as Glasgow is my birth town. I am very proud of what I, together with the late David Dempsey, Colin Buchan and the rest of Amaryllis team have achieved there. I was particularly proud of David’s Michelin star which he won so soon after opening.

It is never an easy decision to close a restaurant but we have been unable to adapt what we do in London to the market here in Glasgow and we can no longer carry the losses. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Scottish people for all the support the restaurant has enjoyed over the past three years. I am proud to be a Scot and will always be a great supporter of Scottish produce.”

Gordon Ramsay Holdings can confirm that Michelin was informed that it would be unlikely that Amaryllis would maintain its present identity into 2004 and this explains the removal of Amaryllis from the 2004 Michelin Red Guide soon to be published.