Restaurant Chestnut owners reveal why they are closing the Michelin-starred West Cork restaurant

Rob Krawczyk and Elaine Fleming reflect on Chestnut’s extraordinary rise, Michelin success, Covid challenges and decision to close

Rob Krawczyk and Elaine Fleming, owners of Restaurant Chestnut

One dark, cold, and foggy evening in March 2018, I set out to join friends for dinner at the ‘soft’ opening of a new restaurant in Ballydehob. Several hours later, I walked back out into the night, consumed with thoughts of the extraordinary meal just eaten and swearing to myself that this restaurant would have a Michelin star within two to three years.

I was wrong. It took just six months.