A restaurant in Bury St Edmunds has announced that it will not be reopening once lockdown restrictions ease.

Ben’s in Churchgate street made the announcement on Facebook yesterday.

The restaurant had been working with its sister pub Queen’s Bar and Grill during lockdown.

Owner Ben Hutton said “It is with a heavy heart I announce the closure of Ben’s Restaurant as you know it”

“Hospitality took a big hit this last year, and in a bid to survive the unknown and prosper, I made a decision to ‘merge’ Ben’s with Queens in July. At the time it was the most effective way to improve our income/overhead ratio, thus securing business longevity and strength during the pandemic. The merge went even better than expected, the menu has gone down incredibly well with customers, the atmosphere is buzzing yet relaxed and the two teams have become one”.

Ben added that it is “not the ‘end’ of Ben’s, it’s just the right time to evolve”. Queen’s will serve some of the dishes previously found at Ben’s and the pub will still serve home-reared meat and plenty of other local products that both eateries have become well known for.

Hutton launched Ben’s Restaurant, in 2014, serving a menu predominantly sourced from Suffolk producers, as well as his own farm where he raises pigs and sheep. The restaurant was also recognised both locally and nationally; in 2019 Ben was a finalist in the Suffolk Business Awards: Food & Farming Excellence. The restaurant was also named Suffolk Food and Drink Awards Winner 2017: Field to Fork and it was featured in The Good Food Guide 2016, 2017, 2018 & 2019: Local Gem – to name but just a few.