Much-loved noodle chain with 150 sites closes original Oxford Street site after 23 years

A BELOVED noodle chain with 127 UK branches has shuttered its original Oxford Street venue after 23 years.

Fans were saddened to see the popular Chopstix brand close down their “location that started it all” in London.

Owners announced the shut down in a poignant message on social media.

Menashe Sadik, Chopstix co-founder and director, wrote with a heavy heart: “I'm sad to say goodbye to the location that started it all, but in many ways, it is a reminder of just how far we've come in 23 years.

“As we begin the process of upgrading our in-store visual identity and build up our pipeline of new stores with our partners QSRP, this is a truly exciting moment in the Chopstix story, even if we are sad to close a previous chapter.

“We know there's no other place quite like Oxford Street, so no doubt Chopstix will be back on the street soon.”

The decision comes as the company are beginning a restructuring process after being taken over by QSRP in October last year.

Chopstix rolled our their first concept store in Bridgend earlier this month.

The new site boasts bottomless drinks and table service.

Chopstix was created in 2002 and has since expanded to 150 venues across the UK and Ireland.

This comes as the hospitality industry is witnessing even top celebrity chefs struggle to keep operations running.

Flying Eze reporteda private chef to royals and billionaires abruptly shut down a famed UK restaurantafter just six months.

Fans were stunned by the announcement that the Unagi chain would be closing one of their popular venues.

Their location on the Salford Quays, in Manchester, informed customers of the move this week.

Elsewhere, the creator of a Michelin-backed restaurant has confirmed a devastating closure after 14 years.

Loyal diners were disappointed to hear one of their favourite family-run venues was shutting down forever.

And, just last month Flying Eze reported a BBC star andGordon Ramsay protege was compelled to closeanother venue after “vowing to do it right” this time.

Similar scenes unfolded when one chef suddenly shut down two Michelin-hailed restaurants without warning as fans cried “I thought they'd go on forever”.

Meanwhile, Flying Eze has compiled a full list of celeb TV chefs that shut down Michelin-hailed restaurants last year – including a BBC MasterChef judge.