Norwich vegan restaurant Erpingham House has announced it is closing temporarily due to rising costs leaving it with bills of more than £6,000 per month.

All reservations at the Tombland restaurant have been cancelled but management still hopes to fulfil event bookings.

Owner Loui Blake said: "We have taken the decision to temporarily close the restaurant.

Norwich Evening News:

"The rising cost of energy has meant our bills are continuously over £6,000 per month, over five times what they were and added to the dramatically increased cost of food.

"With fewer people out to eat in the week, it’s made the business untenable. 

"We are in the process of contacting all of those with reservations and will attempt to open for events. 

"After battling Brexit, Covid, the energy and labour crisis with little support, my fear is that the independents that give character to our cities and towns will soon disappear.

"We have been determined to stay open, doing our very best to steer the business through these challenging times at great expense, but for now it is simply not possible to continue.”

Norwich Evening News:

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It comes after the business's attempts to open a second site in Brighton saw it close after two years, while another branch in Edinburgh lasted one year.

After lockdown, the Norwich site was stopped from serving alcohol due to noise complaints and eventually got its licence back eight weeks later.

In 2021, Mr Blake was forced to agree to pay for trial shifts following an "appalling" social media onslaught.

During its time in the Fine City, Erpingham House has been popular with celebs, with John Travolta visiting to celebrate his birthday in April last year and Alan Carr dining before a show in Norwich.

Norwich Evening News:

It also won a number of accolades including a prestigious award for innovation in the hospitality industry.

The restaurant has also previously seen involvement from a number of former Norwich City players, including Russell Martin, Declan Rudd, Robert Snodgrass and Andrew Crofts.