The Corner House to close Minster restaurant

The Corner House restaurant in Minster will be closing its doors permanently at the end of May after being hit hard by the pandemic.

Following almost nine years in business, chef owner Matt Sworder tried to sustain the restaurant by launching an at home offering and trialling shorter opening hours, but the lasting impact of the pandemic and staff shortages "have forced him to take the difficult decision".

However, the restaurant's sister site in Canterbury will be opening a new dining area in June, overlooking the garden with an extra 26 seats, and as a result all members of staff from the Minster team have been offered roles at the newly extended Canterbury restaurant.

Sworder said: "Minster was my first restaurant and without it there would not have been a Corner House Canterbury. However, the last two years have severely tested the restaurant's viability, with the staff shortages and the expansion of Canterbury, I felt it was the most responsible thing to do.

"As I've always said, my fantastic team are the most important part of my business and whilst I'll be saddened to close the doors of Minster for a final time, I will work with each member of them to ensure we can offer them a position in Canterbury."

The lease has just been brought to market with leisure property specialist Fleurets.

Simon Bland, senior associate at Fleurets said: "I'm really pleased to be entrusted with the letting of this exceptional property on behalf of longstanding family clients. It is a really fine opportunity that will ideally suit equally passionate hands-on operators and given the present lack of really good opportunities in the market I expect there will be strong interest."