A popular York restaurant is to close, saying “the hospitality industry is fighting a losing battle”.
Clucking Oinks has been serving up its distinctive fried chicken at its Castlegate restaurant for nearly three years.
Now owners Mike and Rachel Brand have decided to call it a day, with the venue shutting on 30 May.
But their hugely popular outlet at Spark:York will continue and they say there are new things to come.
Mike and Rachel released a statement on their socials to break the news this evening. “This was our first and most likely last foray into a bricks and mortar restaurant,” they said.
“It was our dream to open a restaurant and for the most part has been fantastic but unfortunately with the climate and situation of hospitality in the UK the way it is we’ve decided to diversify into a different direction.
“The decision was one we made with a heavy heart, however every increase in tax made the decision a little easier.
“Unfortunately the hospitality industry is fighting a losing battle and we’ve made decisions, exciting decisions to take the business in other directions as it’s become clear the idea of a restaurant isn’t a viable one.”
They thanked their “amazing” staff and customers and said they would only be taking walk-ins from now on.
But they added: “This is not the end! We have some exciting projects in the pipeline that we can’t wait to share with you, stay tuned…”
Clucking Oinks began as a street food truck before moving into Spark:York. The Castlegate restaurant opened in June 2023 and quickly became a favourite, gaining a 4.5/5 rating on TripAdvisor.
During its time, the restaurant had some highs – like the food experiments that resulted in extraordinary creations like the Donutter, a chicken burger with a donut for a bun; and some lows, like the vandalism caught on camera.
Customers were upset to hear news of the closure. “So sad to hear this, this our favourite restaurant,” wrote one.
Another said: “Best of luck with everything you do in the future, I’m sure you’ll carry on being great.”
