James Martin's flagship restaurant in Manchester has closed its doors after 14 years, with customers with cancelled bookings and outstanding gift-card balances being offered refunds.
Restaurant stops trading
The celebrity chef's restaurant at Manchester235 has now stopped trading, and customers whose bookings have been cancelled will receive refunds. Casino operator Metropolitan Gaming confirmed that its partnership with the 54-year-old chef had come to an end after 14 years. The restaurant had become a familiar name on Manchester's dining scene, combining James' modern British cooking with the casino's entertainment offering.
In a statement, Metropolitan Gaming thanked James and his team for their "commitment, professionalism and contribution" throughout their time working together. The company also confirmed that staff affected by the closure had been retained elsewhere within the wider business. Customers who had upcoming reservations cancelled will be contacted, while anyone with money remaining on a restaurant gift card will be refunded.
TV career continues
Despite the restaurant shutting its doors, James remains a familiar face on television. The chef first appeared on screens in the 1990s, featuring on programmes including The Big Breakfast and Ready, Steady, Cook. He became a household name when he took over from Antony Worrall Thompson as host of BBC One's Saturday Kitchen in 2006, going on to spend a decade presenting the show before stepping down in 2016.
He later moved to ITV, where he launched James Martin's Saturday Morning. The programme has since become another mainstay of his television career, with James continuing to combine cooking, celebrity guests and live demonstrations each weekend.
New shows confirmed
Last month, the broadcaster confirmed that the popular series has been extended into next year, along with getting two brand new shows. ITV viewers will also be treated to James Martin's Italian Adventure and James Martin Quick 'N' Easy in 2027. This comes after James Martin's Saturday Kitchen saw 5.3 million streams on ITVX in the first half of 2026, up 18% year on year. The upcoming episodes will see a wave of fresh recipes from the popular chef, along with a plethora of celebrity guests making an appearance.
Speaking about the extension of his show, along with another two in the pipeline, James shared his excitement. He commented: "It's all fantastic news! Saturday Mornings will be continuing in what will be our 10th series of the show on ITV. The shows are an honour and a pleasure to make. Quick N' Easy, a new format show for ITV, was such fun to make, and I hope the viewers love the new show. My new Italian Adventure offers up some real hidden gems of a fabulous country. I also want to thank the ITV viewers so much for all their support over the years and can't wait to see our new shows airing in the coming year ahead."
