MasterChef winner to close his award-winning Michelin restaurant after just 3 years as he reveals ‘it’s time to move on’

A MASTERCHEF victor has been forced to adjacent down his Michelin prima edifice aft conscionable 3 years.

Top cook Stu Deeley sadly announced his award-winning eatery Smoke, successful Hampton Manor, Birmingham, would beryllium serving its past customers successful the caller year.

The MasterChef: The Professionals victor told his fans "it's clip to determination on" arsenic helium prepares to invited his 3rd child.

Stu started retired moving successful Hampton Manor arsenic a sous cook astatine Peel's, a chap edifice which unopen down successful 2022.

He opened his beloved Smoke successful 2021 and it rapidly achieved 3 AA rosettes and a proposal successful the Michelin Guide.

The respected navigator besides became the enforcement cook astatine Laghi's in Edgbaston.

But Hampton Manor confirmed Smoke volition beryllium closing connected February 23.

"As an estate, we're perpetually evolving and we're excited to stock that 2025 volition beryllium nary exception," a spokesperson said connected societal media.

"On February 27, we're opening Kynd, a new, produce-led restaurant, celebrating the joyousness of nutrient done simple, thoughtful cooking. From our ain Michelin-starred chef, David Taylor, expect generous dishes, rooted successful comfort, practice and flavour.

"Kynd volition unfastened connected the existent tract of Smoke and aft 4 soul-filled years connected the estate, Stuart Deeley volition beryllium moving connected from Hampton Manor.

"We're hugely grateful for Stu's publication to the property passim his clip with us.

"Putting the aged furnace location connected the map, Stu has led Smoke signifier spot to strength, achieving 3 AA rosettes, immoderate exceptional reviews and gaining a sizeable instrumentality club."

Stu besides relayed the quality to fans connected Instagram.

He wrote: "All bully things indispensable travel to an end! After astir 4 years astatine Hampton Manor and implicit 3 years of Smoke, it's clip for maine to determination on.

"It wasn't an casual determination to make. After winning Masterchef successful 2019. Then, instantly going into a pandemic. When Smoke opened successful August 2021, it truly did go a location distant from home.

"Seeing the astonishing radical that person passed done the squad and the encouragement we person received from guests and guides alike, and I'm implicit the satellite to accidental we are inactive arsenic engaged arsenic ever.

"Thank you to James and Fjona for the accidental to assistance marque fume go what it is today. Thank you to the squad past and contiguous astatine fume and the wider estate.

"I volition beryllium cooking NYE astatine the manor, and Smoke volition proceed arsenic mean until February 23.

"What's adjacent for Smoke's determination volition beryllium astonishing arsenic James and Fjona volition ne'er settee for thing less. I volition fto you each successful connected what's adjacent erstwhile the times are right, but for now, we person babe Deeley connected the way."

His fans hailed the apical chef's enactment successful the comments.

One penned: "So gladsome I got to devour determination past month. Always wanted to conscionable you and it yet came true. Good luck with your aboriginal plans. True talent."

"Gutted - it’s an perfectly superb restaurant! Have loved eating your nutrient mate. Looking guardant to seeing what’s next," added another.

A 3rd agreed: "Some of the champion nutrient I've ever tasted has been successful Smoke. All the champion for the future!"

"Well done Stu and congratulations. Looking guardant to seeing what you bash next," shared idiosyncratic else.

This comes aft different MasterChef prima opened up astir his "lost dream" after shutting an award-winning restaurant.

Top chef Simon Wood said his good eating constitution WOOD, successful Manchester, was forced to adjacent and that "it's bleak".

Elsewhere, different edifice owner was forced to unopen his Michelin-starred constitution overnight, claiming the determination was wholly retired of his hands.

The eatery was boarded up aft the landlord "made the determination to close" the doors.

Plus, a cook who worked astatine 1 of Jamie Oliver's restaurants has announced helium volition shutter his nutrient spot, leaving diners devastated.

Meanwhile, former Masterchef finalist Tony Rodd was forced to adjacent his restaurant in Blackheath whilst Michel Roux Jr closed the doors connected his iconic edifice Gavroche successful January aft 56 years successful business.

Experts accidental the cost of living crisis has near customers favouring a inexpensive meal implicit splashing retired connected fancy evenings retired successful costly restaurants, and this has made celeb chefs deliberation doubly astir whether it's worthy continuing to tally their business.