Nottingham fine dining restaurant set to close as costs rise

A multi-award-winning fine dining restaurant is set to close its doors in August – 24 years to the day that it opened.

World Service will serve its last customers on August 3 after nearly a quarter of a century at the heart of Nottingham’s dining scene.

The restaurant – a favourite with Nottingham professionals, says it has experienced changes in the market and has found it harder and harder to provide fine dining at an affordable cost.

A statement from the owners of the restaurant said: “We want to thank all of our amazing customers from the bottom of our hearts. So many of you have supported us from the very start and allowed us to continue this amazing journey. Many of you arrived as guests and have left as friends. Sincerely, thank you.

“Huge gratitude goes to the wonderful staff that have passed through our doors. The loyalty, dedication and enthusiasm you’ve all shown has been phenomenal. One of the most touching moments has been meeting so many old faces and hearing how much working at World Service left its mark on you, with memories and friendships to last a lifetime. We can assure you that you all have left an indelible mark on World Service as well. On many occasions, it’s been referred to as a family. Never a truer word has been said.

Keeping at the forefront of the Nottingham restaurant scene for 24 years is no mean feat. We feel incredibly proud and honoured to be seen as a restaurant that helped change the landscape of modern fine dining and considered an institution.”

World Service has been honoured several times in the Nottingham Restaurant Awards and has been listed in The Michelin Guide and the AA Guide.

The statement added: “Writing this provokes such a spectrum of emotions – from joyful memories to sadness that it’s all over. But, as they say, all good things must come to an end. So we have almost two months left!

“We would like nothing more than to welcome you through our iconic red doorway one last time. Help us celebrate the wonderful times and bring back memories of the special occasions you’ve shared with us over the years.

“Thank you all for the wonderful journey – it’s been a hell of a ride.”