BBC Saturday Kitchen star suddenly shuts top restaurant after 9 months – admitting ‘I cannot see a viable way forward’
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A BBC Saturday Kitchen star has suddenly shut his top restaurant after only nine months and has admitted he could see no "viable way forward". The Mediterranean eatery has already closed its doors, according to an announcement on the chain's website. Josh Katz who has appeared on the celebrated morning cooking show is responsible for Carmel, Berber & O and Shawarma Bar.
![[Woman holding a pen and notepad, smiling while talking to someone at a bar.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/admitting-i-cannot-see-viable-965814449.jpg?strip=all&w=768)
While these continue to run as normal, the Carmel Fitzrovia site permanently rolled down its shutters as of Monday this week. The announcement read: "We Are Now Closed. "We regret to inform you that Carmel Fitzrovia will be permanently closing its doors for business as of Monday, the 20th of January. We would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank all our guests for their incredible support and custom.
![[Patrons dining outdoors at Carmel restaurant.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/admitting-i-cannot-see-viable-965814438.jpg?strip=all&w=768)
"Our three other locations, Carmel Queen's Park, Berber & Q, and Shawarma Bar, will remain open as usual, and we look forward to welcoming you there. "Thank you once again for being a part of our journey, and we hope to see you at one of our other locations soon.".
![[Two men sitting at a restaurant bar.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/admitting-i-cannot-see-viable-965814112.jpg?strip=all&w=768)
Following the success of the Queen's Park concept, Katz opened the site in February last year. The chef told Restaurant Online that "only time would tell" when taking on the site which has a "chequered history". He continued: "I guess it's one of those sites where people think 'which idiot is going to take that?' While I would not like to talk ill of anyone and I'm certainly no oracle, La Rampa was drinks led which I'm not sure was quite right and the space is too big to be a fried chicken restaurant.
![[Carmel Fitzrovia restaurant logo over a table setting.]](https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/admitting-i-cannot-see-viable-965825938.jpg?strip=all&w=960)
