Giancarlo Caldesi Restaurant Closure: The Verified 2026 Status of Every Location
The UK hospitality sector is volatile, and few headlines have caused as much confusion recently as the Giancarlo Caldesi restaurant closure news. In early 2025, residents of Belsize Park watched as the newest addition to the Caldesi empire shut its doors after just nine months of trading.
For loyal patrons, this raised an immediate alarm: Was this a singular failure, or a sign of wider trouble for the iconic Italian brand?
The reality is nuanced. While the Belsize Lane location has indeed ceased operations, the core of Giancarlo and Katie Caldesi’s culinary portfolio remains robust. In fact, as we move through early 2026, their flagship sites are not just surviving, they are collecting national awards.
This article provides the definitive, fact-checked status of every Caldesi location. We will examine why the Belsize experiment ended, confirm the operational status of the Marylebone and Bray restaurants, and look at what is currently thriving in the spaces they left behind.
The Belsize Park Closure: Why Caldesi in Belsize Shut Down
To understand the current landscape, we must first address the specific Giancarlo Caldesi restaurant closure that triggered the rumours. The site at 29 Belsize Lane, London, has a complex history, and its closure was a significant event in the local hospitality news cycle of 2025.
A Sudden Exit from Belsize Lane (January 2025)
The closure of Caldesi in Belsize was abrupt. The restaurant had only opened in April 2024, following an extensive refurbishment. According to reports from The Caterer, the site ceased trading in January 2025, completing a lifecycle of less than one year.
This was not a quiet exit. The local community in NW3 had anticipated the opening with high expectations. The sudden shuttering left many with unredeemed vouchers and questions. The speed of the closure, less than a year after opening, is rare for a brand with such established pedigree, suggesting that the specific challenges of this location were insurmountable even for veterans like the Caldesis.
Rising Costs and Concept Shifts
Why did it fail? The answer lies in a “perfect storm” of economic pressures that plagued UK hospitality throughout 2024 and 2025.
First, the capital investment was immense. Local sources, including the Ham & High, reported a renovation cost approaching £400,000 to transform the site (formerly operating as other eateries) into a venue suitable for the Caldesi brand. Recouping such an expenditure requires high, consistent footfall from day one.
Second, there was a concept mismatch. The Belsize location attempted to pivot towards a “sharing plates” and cicchetti style menu, distinguishing it from the structured à la carte experience of Marylebone. While popular in Soho or Shoreditch, this casual dining model struggled to find its footing with the specific demographic of Belsize Village, who often favour traditional three-course structures for their local dining.
When you combine high overheads, aggressive energy costs, and a dining concept that didn’t immediately land with locals, the financial runway disappears quickly. The decision to close was likely a strategic move to stop losses and protect the health of the wider group.
What is at 29 Belsize Lane Now? (HUŎ Restaurant)
If you visit 29 Belsize Lane today, you will not find Italian branding. The site was quickly snapped up by the team behind HUŎ, a high-end Asian restaurant group.
HUŎ opened its doors in September 2025, bringing a completely different culinary profile to the street. This rapid turnover is typical of prime London real estate; landlords cannot afford empty units. For locals wondering if the Caldesi site is dormant, the answer is no, it is active, just under entirely new management and serving stir-fries rather than pasta.
Is Caldesi Marylebone Still Open? (2026 Update)
Confusion often arises because the “Caldesi” name is so strongly linked to Marylebone. Let us be absolutely clear: The Giancarlo Caldesi restaurant closure in Belsize Park has no impact on the operations of the flagship London site.
The Flagship Experience on Marylebone Lane
Caldesi in Marylebone remains the beating heart of the business. Located at 118 Marylebone Lane, this institution has been serving authentic Tuscan and Italian cuisine for over two decades.
As of February 2026, the restaurant is fully operational. It continues to operate its unique dual-concept layout:
- Ground Floor (Caffè Caldesi): A bustling, informal space for coffee, lunch, and casual dinners. It mimics the energy of a busy Florentine bar.
- Upstairs (The Restaurant): A white-tablecloth environment for fine dining, where Giancarlo’s signature slow-cooked ragus and fresh seafood dishes take centre stage.
Recent visits confirm that the standards here remain impeccable. The “Experience” factor is heavily driven by the family’s physical presence. It is still common to see Giancarlo or Katie on the floor, a personal touch that was perhaps harder to replicate across multiple expansion sites.
La Cucina Caldesi Cookery School Status
Attached to the Marylebone flagship is La Cucina Caldesi, the cookery school that cemented the couple’s reputation as educators.
The school is active and accepting bookings for 2026. Their course calendar includes:
- “A Passion for Pasta” masterclasses.
- Roman Kitchen workshops.
- Specific courses on low-carb cooking (a niche the Caldesis dominate).
If you are holding a gift voucher for the cookery school, rest assured it remains valid. The closure of the satellite restaurant in Belsize has not affected the school’s schedule or staffing.
Caldesi in Campagna: Britain’s Best Restaurant 2025
The narrative that the Caldesi brand is “shrinking” is factually incorrect. While they pruned one branch, another has blossomed into national recognition. The Bray location, Caldesi in Campagna, is currently enjoying its most successful period to date.
The Bray Success Story
Located in the culinary village of Bray, Berkshire, famous for hosting Heston Blumenthal’s The Fat Duck and the Roux family’s Waterside Inn, Caldesi in Campagna faces stiff competition. Yet, it stands on its own merits.
In late 2025, this location was named the “Best Restaurant in Britain” at the prestigious Muddy Stilettos Awards Muddy Stilettos / Time Out. This accolade is significant. It is voted for by the public and vetted by editors, signalling high trust and customer satisfaction.
Winning this award in the same year as the Belsize closure highlights a strategic pivot: the group has retreated from high-risk London expansion to focus on “destination dining” where they have a proven, loyal following.
Signatures of Giancarlo: The Low-Carb Revolution
A key differentiator for the Bray location in 2026 is its dedication to the low-carb lifestyle. Following Giancarlo’s diagnosis with Type 2 diabetes years ago, and his subsequent remission through diet, the menus here offer something rare in Italian dining: a fully realized low-carb selection.
Patrons travel specifically for dishes that replace heavy wheat pastas with innovative vegetable alternatives or almond-flour bases. This isn’t a side note; it is a core pillar of their Caldesi Website identity. By offering a “remission-friendly” menu alongside traditional Tuscan indulgence, they capture a health-conscious demographic that competitors ignore.
Summary Table: Caldesi Restaurant Status February 2026
For those seeking a quick verification, this table outlines the current status of the portfolio.
| Location | Status | Key Information |
| Caldesi in Belsize | CLOSED ❌ | Shut Jan 2025. Site now occupied by HUŎ (Asian Cuisine). |
| Caldesi in Marylebone | OPEN ✅ | Flagship restaurant & Cookery School fully active. |
| Caldesi in Campagna (Bray) | OPEN ✅ | Winner: Best Restaurant in Britain 2025 (Muddy Stilettos). |
The Strategic Shift: Why “Less” Means “More” for Caldesi
The Giancarlo Caldesi restaurant closure in Belsize should be viewed through the lens of business strategy, not failure.
The UK hospitality industry saw a record number of insolvencies in 2024. Chains that over-expanded were punished by the market. By cutting the Belsize cord quickly, the Caldesi group protected its cash flow.
This consolidation has allowed them to reinvest energy into Marylebone and Bray. The result is evident in the quality of the food and the awards sitting on the mantelpiece in Bray. For a family-run business, maintaining quality control is paramount. Giancarlo and Katie have effectively chosen to be “brilliant at two locations” rather than “struggling at three.”
FAQs
Why did Caldesi Belsize close so quickly?
The Belsize Park location closed due to a combination of high operating costs (energy, rent, staffing) and a dining concept that did not generate the necessary repeat business from the local community. It traded for approximately nine months before the decision was made to cease operations in January 2025.
Is Giancarlo Caldesi still a chef?
Yes, Giancarlo remains the executive chef and creative force behind the brand. While he may not be on the line every night, he is actively involved in menu development, particularly the low-carb and seasonal Tuscan specials served at Marylebone and Bray.
Who owns the new restaurant in Belsize Village?
The site at 29 Belsize Lane is now operated by HUŎ, an independent restaurant group specializing in Asian cuisine. It is not affiliated with the Caldesi family.
Where is Giancarlo Caldesi’s main restaurant?
The flagship restaurant is Caldesi in Marylebone, located at 118 Marylebone Lane, London. This location houses both the casual café, the formal restaurant, and the cookery school.
Can I still book a cookery course with Katie Caldesi?
Absolutely. Katie Caldesi continues to lead La Cucina Caldesi. You can book courses online for dates throughout 2026. The school operates primarily out of the Marylebone location, with occasional events in Bray.
Is the Marylebone restaurant under threat of closure?
There are no indicators that the Marylebone site is at risk. It is a long-standing institution with high footfall. The closure was specific to the Belsize branch.
What are the best dishes to try at Caldesi in Campagna in 2026?
Regulars recommend the Pappardelle al Ragù (slow-cooked beef and pork sauce) for traditionalists. For those watching their sugar intake, the Low-Carb Lasagne, made with layers of egg and almond pasta, is widely considered the best of its kind in the UK.
Conclusion
The headlines regarding the Giancarlo Caldesi restaurant closure tell only a fraction of the story. While the Belsize Park venture was short-lived, it was a calculated loss in a difficult economic climate.
The real story for 2026 is resilience. The Caldesi brand has successfully consolidated its efforts into its heritage sites. With the Marylebone flagship bustling and the Bray restaurant holding the title of “Best in Britain,” Giancarlo and Katie Caldesi remain heavyweight champions of the UK Italian food scene.
If you were planning a visit, scratch Belsize from your list, but keep Marylebone and Bray firmly in your diary. The pasta is still fresh, the welcome is still warm, and the doors are very much open.
For reservations or to view the latest masterclass schedule, visit the official [Caldesi website].
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