'A huge, huge loss' - Simon Wood announces shock closure of Manchester restaurant after seven years

The Oldham-born chef and 2015 MasterChef winner broke the news via an Instagram post, citing increases in running costs as the reason for the closure.

Thanking both his customers and suppliers, he wrote: “We have had 7 years as part of the Manchester City dining scene and I’m very proud of what the team and I have achieved. Sadly with Covid rent arrears now being demanded by our landlord and an increasingly difficult marketplace, energy increases, ingredient costs and soon to be spiralling business rates we just cannot make this work.”

Customers have been leaving messages of support in the comment section, including Night Time Economy Advisor and former Parklife boss Sacha Lord, who said: “A huge, huge loss to Manchester. If you can’t make it, God help many others. Thank you for everything you have done behind the scenes for the sector. You and your team will be back, I have no doubt. I’m proud to call you a friend.”

Just days before, the 2015 MasterChef winner took to X to call out a group of people who had been booked in for a Chef’s Table experience at WOOD but did not show up. Posting a picture of the empty seats, he wrote: “I’d like to say a huge thanks to the Table of 5 that no showed, not even a phone call or a courtesy so I could try and resell the table. What a way support a small business. Much appreciated. You T#%t$”

The shock closure of WOOD also comes a couple of weeks after TV chef Simon Rimmer announced the closure of his second Greens restaurant in Sale. He also said that rising running costs left the business “untenable”. The first Greens restaurant in Didsbury had also closed nine months earlier after 20 years as one of Manchester’s leading vegetarian restaurants.

Wood rose to prominence after winning the 2015 series of MasterChef. He then became the executive chef at Oldham Event Centre at Oldham Athletic’s Boundary Park stadium, before opening his pop up restaurant The Boardroom, also in Oldham. He opened WOOD in Manchester city centre’s First Street in 2017.