Fine dining restaurant in Belfast to close doors

FINE dining restaurant Blank in south Belfast is to close due to “financial strains” including the rising cost of produce and “escalating” wages, its owners have announced.

But Christina and Jonny Taylor, who also own Shed Bistro on the city’s Ormeau Road, said they will open a new, cheaper venue in Blank’s old location.

Blank specialised in a tasting menu of high-end dishes, with each course a mystery until it was set in front of diners.

It is the latest fine dining venue in Belfast to announce an overhaul after Michelin-starred Deanes Eipic closed late last year.

In a statement, the couple said: “Blank introduced a unique dining experience to the city when it opened on Malone Road in October 2021 and along with winning multiple culinary awards, the restaurant was recognised in the Michelin Guide in January 2023.

“However, the financial strains of operating the restaurant, exacerbated by escalating wages and the rising costs of local produce — a commitment the team staunchly upheld — have ultimately rendered Blank financially unviable and the venue will close its doors in June this year.”

Mrs Taylor said the couple regretted their “difficult decision”.

“We took a gamble in October 2021 with the opening of Blank which was a new dining concept for a restaurant in Northern Ireland and for more than two years it has worked.

“However, the ever increasing cost of doing business and the amount of staff we need on site simply renders Blank unviable. The cumulative pressure has become too much and we feel we need to redesign the restaurant offer at that site.

“The margins in operating such a fine dining restaurant are very finely balanced.

“While we have always been very busy at weekends, it has been more difficult to attract customers midweek and far too often we get last minute cancellations, often of more than one table.

“When that happens it makes that day’s trading unviable. I really hope customers take this on board, and give a restaurant booking the same status and respect that goes with a theatre or a concert booking.

“Blank will remain open until June 8 and I urge anyone who wants to have the Blank experience to do so in the six weeks we have left of trading.

“All Blank vouchers should be used in that period too.”

She added: “All of the staff from Blank will be transitioning to our new restaurant which we are determined to make a success.

“Unlike Blank, this new venue will offer a more casual and accessible dining experience with an order-from-the-menu concept.

“The Blank experience is hard to accept but we will be part of the restaurant scene in Belfast and in Northern Ireland for the long term.”

Tables for Blank’s new restaurant, which is yet to be named, will be available to book from Friday, May 3.