Chef Dylan McGrath announced on Thursday that he is shutting down two of his Dublin restaurants without notice.
The Irish Times reported that an email sent to customers who had bookings at Brasserie Sixty6 said that the hospitality industry has faced many challenges in recent years due to rising costs and economic pressures.
"We’ve made the very difficult decision to close Brasserie Sixty6 and Rustic Stone effective today, 15th of August 2024," it said.
“Both have been very successful restaurants in Dublin city for a long time, but the time has come where we have decided it’s simply not sustainable anymore.”
A version of the message also appears on both restaurants' websites when trying to book a table.
The message said that one of the restaurants’ “events team” would be in touch with people who have bookings, and directed intending diners to Mr McGrath’s nearby Fade Street Social venue, which remains open.
It also said it would try to transfer any Christmas bookings to Fade Street Social.
In an Instagram post on both restaurants' pages, the closure was further announced.
"Brasserie Sixty6 has had 25 years in business and Rustic Stone has had 15. We would like to thank all of our customers over the years, our suppliers and all those who spent their happy times dining with us. No doubt we will miss the restaurants, but selling on the leases and concentrating on Fade Street Social currently is what’s needed. We wish the new occupiers all the success for the future," the notice said.
"For all the great people who have worked with us over the years, that came and trained with us, that became better, and made us better, we want to say thank you.
"This is a very challenging time for stand-alone restaurant models. Rustic Stone and Brasserie Sixty6 have been very successful restaurants in Dublin City for a long time, but hospitality is changing and we believe our strong work ethic is better applied to new and different opportunities. We will be focused on Fade Street Social and making it the best it can be."
