Chef heads for Wilderness as Nocturnal effort closes doors
Eighties-themed restaurant shuts as culinary star steps down to focus on latest venture
ACITY centre bar and restaurant has announced its closure less than a week after one of Birmingham’s bestknown chefs walked away from the project.
Nocturnal Animals, in Bennetts Hill, revealed it had shut down on Tuesday.
The venture – the brainchild of chef Alex Claridge – had been open for less than a year.
Mr Claridge, chef-owner of The Wilderness in the Jewellery Quarter, announced on social media that he had ended his involvement with the venue last Friday.
Two tweets posted on the Nocturnal Animals Twitter account read: “Since Alex Claridge’s departure, the business owners for Nocturnal Animals have regrettably taken the decision to close the venue for the foreseeable while they make a plan.
“We want to thank everyone for the support shown since opening and our team for all their hard work and dedication.
“For anyone that has remaining gift vouchers for the venue these will be honoured at The Wilderness.”
Described as a “playful and provocative venue”, the opening of Nocturnal Animals had been the most highly-anticipated opening of the year for city foodies.
The highly stylised venue
– which comprised a ground-floor bar and basement restaurant – had an 80s soundtrack playing throughout. It aimed to offer “a culinary journey with ingenious drinks, bold flavours and an Afternoon Tea unlike any before”.
As chef-owner of the acclaimed Wilderness restaurant in Warstone Lane, Mr Claridge assembled a stellar team, including drinks development manager James Bowker, formerly of The Edgbaston cocktail bar.
In an interview with the Post, Mr Claridge said he had been inspired to create a fun 80s nightclub-feel bar and restaurant serving innovative cocktails and a “playful menu influenced by Japanese and Chinese cuisine with a healthy dose of junk food”.
But earlier this year he re-branded the basement restaurant – renaming it Kisama because he said the initial eatery was “too confusing” for customers.
Former head chef at Rofuto at Park Regis, Pedro Miranda was employed as Kisama’s new head chef. It was understood that he left his role last month.
This week, Mr Claridge said: “This has been a challenging project for a huge variety of reasons, but most importantly, I have spent the past nine months split between the two restaurants and this isn’t something I wish to continue.
“The business owners of Nocturnal Animals are obviously disappointed but respect my decision, for which I am grateful
“Whatever they choose to do now I have left, I will do what I can to support any transition.
“I have always promised my family, work family and business partners that The Wilderness and my happiness will be my priority no matter what, and the time is right for me to stay true to that.
“I intend to dedicate my time and attention to the restaurant that I love so dearly and pursue only the constant goal of making The Wilderness the best restaurant it can be for both guests and our team alike.”