Fifteen Cornwall founded by Jamie Oliver announces sudden closure with 100 job losses

The charity run restaurant founded by Jamie Oliver Fifteen Cornwall has announced its sudden closure just 8 months after confirming it will stay open.

It is reported that the closure of both the restaurant and the Cornwall Food Foundation charity will affect about 100 staff.

In May of this year the restaurant made assurances that it would remain open despite the celebrity chef's restaurant empire going into administration.

Chefs and waiting staff at the restaurant were told the news this afternoon. With just two weeks until Christmas, the announcement will come as a blow to both employees and customers who had bookings over the Christmas period.

It will also be a disappointment to young people in Cornwall who find it hard to break into the restaurant industry or struggle to find work.

The Newquay restaurant has previously said that two-thirds of its trained apprentices are still working in the restaurant trade. On a yearly basis it trained six to 10 young unemployed people in its kitchens.

Despite using the celebrity chef's name, it's owned by a charitable trust and trained disadvantaged young people to run the kitchen.

It's also expected to affect local suppliers as it served largely locally sourced seasonal food.

Fifteen Cornwall launched 13 years ago and had previously survived the difficulties of Jamie Oliver's wider business due to it being a separate business with all profits going back into the charity.

Just a few weeks ago the restaurant held a recruitment day.

The training programme was created to give young people the opportunity to gain qualifications in food and the ability to start a career in the food industry whatever background they come from.

In its statement the restaurant confirmed that all future bookings have been cancelled with immediate effect. For those who have paid deposits or own gift cards find out what to do here.