Highly rated Norwich chef Roger Hickman is to close his self-named restaurant after 15 years, blaming economic conditions and changes in the industry for his decision. It will serve its last meals on March 30.
Roger worked at Adlards restaurant on the same site before taking it over himself in 2010. Since then, it has regularly been nominated in the Harden’s guide as the ‘best restaurant in Norwich’ – although the current 2025 guide detected a decline in standards following a high staff turnover post-covid.
Roger said: “It’s been an extraordinary journey, but after 15 years, I’ve decided it’s time to put the restaurant on the market for sale. The industry has changed dramatically, and so have the ways in which people dine. Rather than trying to reinvent the wheel, I feel it’s the right moment to move on.“
He cited the cost of living crisis, skyrocketing utility bills and rising costs of ingredients as contributing to his decision. “These pressures have forced menu prices to rise, but at the same time, customers simply don’t have the resources to dine out as often as they’d like. With fewer bums on seats and ever-increasing expenses, it’s become almost impossible for small businesses to survive.”
