A well-known Worthing restaurant run by MasterChef winner Kenny Tutt has closed its doors for the last time.
Late on Monday afternoon (July 31), Pitch Restaurant's staff told its social media followers that its management had tried everything they could to remain viable.
But, they added:
"We do not believe in passing on the ever rising costs to our patrons and becoming something we didn't set out to be".
The announcement was made, they said, with a "very heavy heart", after the establishment in Warwick Street, they believed, had "grown into a real part of the community in this great town".
By 6pm, the restaurant's website had been taken down.
Pitch had opened in 2019 with the reported aim of being an homage to Worthing, celebrating home-grown and locally-sourced produce.
By early Monday evening, hundreds of comments from well-wishers regretting the closure had been posted:
Facebook user Pippa Naidoo wrote:
"We had our wedding supper with you last year, and our First Anniversary supper this year. We have followed Kenny from his first appearance on MasterChef. Let's hope he and his team can start something else very soon."
Jane de Vos added:
"That is such a shame. It was my favourite, and the cookery classes were so much fun!"
Jan Barnett said:
"Thank you for elevating the restaurant level in Worthing to such an exceptional standard."
Earlier in the day, founder Kenny Tutt paid tribute to diners during an interview with the publication Restaurant Online:
"I want to say a huge thank-you to the customers who have supported us over the years.
"The laughter is ingrained in the walls here; there have been some really beautiful times."
He added that a "perfect storm" had been created by recent increases in food costs, utilities, and necessary wage increases for staff.
All this was coupled with a reduction in demand following what he called "a big whoosh of support after Covid."
It was also reported yesterday that Mr. Tutt was considering opening a site within Worthing's Dome Cinema.
Writing to diners yesterday, the restaurant concluded:
"It’s farewell to this chapter and we are sure there will be more to come."
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