Jeremy’s Restaurant set for October closure

Jeremy’s Restaurant, a Haywards Heath bistro and fine dining establishment, is set to close next month following 24 years of trading.

The site’s last service will take place on 1 October, as owners Jeremy and Vera Ashpool look to retire after 40 years in the hospitality industry.

Writing on the Jeremy’s website, the Ashpools said that the closure will also see a “bid farewell to head chef Jimmy and Maria as they seek new adventures”.

They attributed the closure to being “unable to agree terms for the succession with landlords”, resulting in the decision “not to recruit a new kitchen team to continue the fine dining”.

However, following a two-week break after the Borde Hill Gardens-based bistro’s end, neighbouring site Café Elvira, which is operated by Vera Ashpool, will be reopened from 9am-5pm Wednesday to Sunday from 20 October.

The Ashpools said: “We will host events whenever we can and offer the restaurant space for a variety of uses, pop-up suppers, nutritional courses and cookery classes.”

They added: “Our sincerest thanks to all our friends and customers – some still remember our first fledgling bistro, Elvira’s, in Cuckfield, followed by the first Jeremy’s at the King’s Head and then Jeremy’s at the Crabtree, Lower Beeding.

“The journey has been rich and rewarding but the time has now come to start dreaming about grilling sardines on an open fire at sunset on a sandy far away shore.”