Mark Hix confirms that his restaurants are in administration

Chef and restaurateur Mark Hix has confirmed reports that administrators have been appointed to his restaurants, but stated that it was not his decision.

Hix released a statement on Instagram yesterday (6 April) explaining that the decision to appoint administrators had been taken by the board of the restaurants’ parent companies WSH & Mark Hix Restaurants Limited and Hix Townhouse.

He wrote that the decision, however, did not have his support.

The statement read: “I echo the words of Rick Stein this week and all others in our hospitality business who have undoubtedly faced the toughest couple of weeks ever, and, in our case, since we opened in 2008.

“The hardest decision for WSH & Mark Hix Restaurants Limited has been to appoint an administrator and to close down the restaurants and HIX Townhouse, which in turn has made my team redundant without being able to take advantage of the government furlough scheme. Although the press are using, and will use, my name as the responsible director this was not my decision.

“Apart from tough times and sad times for me, it is nothing compared to what so many of my team, and others that are reliant on our business, are going through. Over time we have genuinely become a large family and to lose all of my team like this has been incredibly difficult and upsetting.

“One day, I will reopen in some way and I want to say a big thank you to all of my team, my suppliers and our guests who’ve been so supportive over the years and a huge thanks to those that have been in touch with their good wishes.”

The restaurants which face closure include London’s Tramshed, Hixter Bankside, Hix Oyster and Chop House, as well as Hix Oyster and Fish House and Hix Townhouse in Lyme Regis.

It follows news of the closure of Hix’s Soho site last December after 10 years in operation. Hix said that decision was a result of rising rents and difficult market conditions.

Hix opened his first eponymous restaurant, the Hix Oyster & Chop House, in 2008 after 17 years as chef director of restaurant group Caprice Holdings.

He was awarded an MBE in the 2017 New Year Honours list for services to hospitality.