DISHES created by celebrity chef Gary Rhodes will not be appearing on the menu at a Christchurch hotel after the Michelin star chef ended his involvement with the town centre eatery.

Gary, who has restaurants in London, Dublin and Dubai, will no longer be putting his name to the restaurant at the Kings Hotel in Castle Street after deciding two restaurants in a single town was one too many.

Kings Rhodes opened in August 2008 after a multi-million pound investment, with Rhodes South at the Christchurch Harbour Hotel, formerly the Avonmouth, opening a few months later.

Both of the newly refurbished hotels are owned by the Harbour Hotels Group, a division of the Nicholas James Group, owned by Nicholas Roach.

Mr Roach said: “Gary’s involvement in the King’s Hotel was always intended to be a one-year only operation. It was a way of introducing him to the town before Rhodes South opened up and it has been very successful.

“There has been no dispute and Gary has actually been in Christchurch for the past few days working in the kitchen at Rhodes South – which demonstrates his commitment to the business and the area.

“We are actually focusing on opening up some more Rhodes South restaurants in the south although we are unable to say at this time where they will be.

“We were brave to open up in a recession but it has proved to be a good decision. When you have hit on a successful formula then you do not want to change that.”

Mr Roach confirmed that they did want to stick to a policy of one restaurant per town, which is why the chef’s one-year lease had not been renewed.

Paul Riley, economic development manager at Christchurch council, said: “We have been really fortunate to have two Gary Rhodes restaurants in Christchurch. I don’t know of any other small town that can boast that.

“I understand Gary has taken a decision to have just one restaurant per town from now on and its great that he will be continuing with Rhodes South at the Christchurch Harbour Hotel.”

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