Nothing can last forever, but some things you never expect to end. Glynn Purnell has announced that his namesake restaurant, Purnell’s has closed its doors for the final time on Saturday, October 12. Purnell’s, which opened on July 7, 2007 and earned its Michelin star in 2008, has been one of the most iconic restaurants in Birmingham.
His flagship restaurant maintained a high culinary standard for 17 years in Birmingham’s dining scene, influencing many other great restaurants in the city. The restaurant was beloved for its seasonal dishes and contemporary British cuisine. Purnell cited a combination of “economic pressures and the ongoing challenges” in the hospitality industry for the closure.
Glynn Purnell commented, “Purnell’s has been my proudest moment, and I am heartbroken to say that after 17 years we have served our final guest. It fills my heart with pride to say that Purnell’s was a roaring success from day one. It won every accolade going, from a Michelin star just a year after opening, to the Craft Guild of Chefs New Restaurant of the Year Award, and the AA Restaurant of the Year Award.
Purnell’s has been a place where I have had the privilege of working with some of the greatest talent I’ve ever known, and where I have trained people who are now working in some of the best restaurants in the world, from New York to Australia. However, the world doesn’t stand still. Things have moved on, and times have changed. In this current climate, no-one is bulletproof.
I would like to thank everybody who has worked for me over the years. I have always had a team who are like family to me, who have worked with creativity, passion and enthusiasm to make Purnell’s the success it has been for 17 years. I’d also like to thank everybody who has ever eaten here and celebrated life here. I’ve raised a glass with guests who have come through our doors to mark birthdays, graduations, first dates, weddings, anniversaries, and many more life events, and I’m thrilled that they chose Purnell’s for all those occasions.”
We’ve lost one of the greats with Purnell’s, but Glynn still operates many great eateries in Birmingham and beyond that we can enjoy. Plates by Purnell’s opened in Birmingham last year, offering Spanish-inspired tapas, while The Mount in Henley-in-Arden provides a proper pub experience with Michelin expertise. We expect Glynn himself will be making plenty more TV appearances too.