Kenzo 72 restaurant in Swindon is closing for good

Kenzo 72, located in Godwin Court, Old Town, opened in 2015 and has earned a good reputation with its offering of Asian tapas and steaks. 

But  it has been confirmed that locals only have a few weeks left to enjoy the delicacies on offer there, as it will be shutting on June 16.

After this the building will be refurbished and reopened as a new restaurant business with a different name and menu.

It is not yet known what kind of restaurant will be taking Kenzo 72's place, or what kind of food might be on offer. 

Kenzo owners Alan Mok and David Lai with Swindon Mayor Andrew Bennett It is also not known how long the refurbishment might take and when the building might reopen, although it is expected to be at some point later this year.

When it opened in 2015 at the site of the former The Spot, Kenzo 72 hoped to "offer something a little different with a taste of the Orient as well as a snazzy lounge bar opened late into the weekend nights."

At the time, Alan Mok, a partner in the business alongside David Lai, said: "We wanted to cater for everything in Old Town, and we thought this was a prime location to offer something a bit different for people to go to.

Following its opening, Swindon’s response to Kenzo 72 surpassed Alan and his team’s wildest expectations 

“Everybody who’s come here has raved about it – touch wood,”  Alan said, in an interview with the Swindon Advertiser.

“Making something that works is the ultimate success for us," he said. 

The news of its upcoming closure has also been equally met with disappointment and sadness from many who considered it among their favourite places to eat in Swindon. 

One member of the public wrote on social media: "I would go there all the time and I am devastated to hear it's closing. Obviously, it's going to reopen, but it will be as something else. I loved Kenzo's."

Another commented: "It's a shame. I have always had a good time eating there, but things change and there's no use dwelling on it."

A third added: "I had heard through the grapevine that they were closing down in June and I guess it is true."

It is not known how the closure and relaunch will affect Kenzo 72's existing staff.