Penzance restaurant 'killed off in its prime'

The restaurateur behind one of Penzance's finest restaurants has closed its doors for the last time, blaming the "worst recessionin a very long time".

Robert Wright, who opened Untitled in the former Abbey Restaurant off Chapel Street, said it was like a "bereavement" as he closed this week.

Mr Wright, former chef at the Gurnard's Head near Zennor, said it felt wrong "to kill something off in its prime" but it had become unsustainable.

The closure will come as a blow to Penzance, where another popular restaurant, the Blue Snappa, closed earlier this month over a dispute with landlords.

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In a letter to customers, Mr Wright said: "After giving everything to a business and sacrificing enormous amounts of personal life, including precious time with a new child and family, there comes a point when one has to prioritise.

"To remove yet another business from Penzance is gutting, especially as this week has also seen the sad loss of the Blue Snappa. I had every hope of riding the storm of the recession through to the phoenix moment that Penzance is surely due, but sadly it has not been possible.

"I have enormous respect for all other independent businesses who are managing to keep their heads above water right now and would like to reiterate to all that supporting your independent traders is more important now than ever.

"The experience of Untitled has been an enormous learning curve but a thrill and pleasure at the same time. I will be bereft without it, but now is not the right time. Watch this space in future times, though."

Mr Wright, whose partner Helen Venning runs Newlyn Cheese and Charcuterie, said he would now devote his time to the cheese shop "to make sure there is at least one success story for Penwith".