Nobu forced to close London restaurant on credit crunch

Saturday 27th September, 11:06 AM JST

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13 Comments

Mark_McCracken at 08:04 PM JST - 27th September

Because when there is a credit crunch, people don't eat at Japanese restaurants? Perhaps Nobu is looking for an excuse other than "I overexpanded."
OssanULTRA at 11:36 PM JST - 27th September

I'd really like to see a beter explanation of how the current "credit crunch" has affected the cash flow at this restaurant. It's not like the customers' credit cards have been frozen. Were all their customers from firms that are laying people off? Or perhaps, and this is very likely, their business was based on business customers exorbidantly entertaining their clients with ridiculously overpriced Japanese food and now that just isn't going to continue.Or, perhaps they mean that the revolving line of credit that they had put together to keep this restaurant running isn't going to happen.Nothing like an article that leaves the reader far more puzzled than before he read it.
some14some at 11:37 PM JST - 27th September

means liabilities far exceed the assets of other two restaurants?
romulus3 at 11:43 PM JST - 27th September

Credit crunch? how about Londoners like proper food, large portions and a good price. What a loser blaming the credit crunch but then again I just had an idea....... (z) Romulus: Sorry Baby, you have to pay for half of the meal because, you know, the credit crunch that did in Nobu-chan....Romulus is feeling it too. (z) J-Date: I believe Nobu-chan so let me pay for everything. I feel sorry for you and Nobu-chan.
Luddite at 12:20 AM JST - 28th September

All three Nobu restaurants in London are unbelieveably expensive. Not for the average diner, I can tell you. People in London are dining out less now. The food in Nobu is very overpriced for what it is anyway.
rjd_jr at 01:34 PM JST - 28th September

5 pounds for a huge dish of fish and chips or 300 pounds for a 3 course meal at nobus? Do the math! A local sushi shop tastes the same as nobu's.
Luddite at 06:37 PM JST - 28th September

I don't know where you buy your fish and chips (and NEVER served in a dish) rjd jr, but it doesn't cost five quid. I wasn't impressed by the sushi and sashimi at Nobu.
Sarge at 07:13 PM JST - 28th September

This is all Bush's fault.
Altria at 10:24 AM JST - 29th September

There's a hot new restaurant called McDonalds where all the bankers are flocking to.
soldave at 11:07 AM JST - 29th September

But if it's vastly overpriced to start with then the food could be classed as a luxury good and with relatively inelastic demand. As the relative price goes up, the people who would have gone there previously and paid would most likely still have the disposable income to do so still now.

Just a random thought.
unscrejects at 11:09 AM JST - 29th September

Lesson for wannabe new-cusine introducers to London: 1) - we like our food boiled for days and unsalted. 2)- Kelp is only used in soaps - not soups. 3)- We want to know what you're trying to make us eat so tell us in English - "ebi" is soggy defrosted shrimp, "anago" is cold somewhat smoked chinese conger eel, "wasabi" is grated bog weed root... stuff like that.
GG2141 at 06:59 AM JST - 30th September

Restaurants must totally re-invent themselves every 3 years or die.

Even the mighty Nobu.

FYI: fast food is an exception to that rule, and is technically not even "food", from a cuisine point of view, it is "product."
humptydumpty at 02:33 PM JST - 2nd October

I agree Nobu is overpriced and not tastey according to my gaijin mouth. Everything tastes like sea water and about time they caved in!