Food and Drink
Restaurant reviews, food and drink news
Deane and out… for January anyway
January is a slow month as it is for most restaurants, what with people like us still trying to figure out how we managed to spend so much money in December and come out the other side with nothing much to show.
So it’s a real shame to hear that Michael Deane’s Michelin-starred restaurant has been closed temporarily because of a burst pipe, which flooded premises. In the early hours of Sunday morning, the pipe burst causing the restaurant’s main dining area to be filled and part of the ceiling to collapse.
It’s believed that Deane’s will be closed for anywhere up to four weeks. What a crying shame both for both Deane and for Belfast. His place holds the North’s only Michelin star (though with any luck someone will get another one soon here) so it’s a real loss to the city.
Sharon Clarke, finance operations manager for Deanes, said it was a ‘disaster’ for the business but people were being redirected to their other places in Belfast.
“Its not really something you want in January – it’s a bad enough month,” she said. “There’s water damage right through the air conditioning and heating units as well as in the electrical system. We’ve got the builders in now who are in the process of taking down the ceiling, which we hope doesn’t reveal a multitude of problems. There was two inches of water on the floor, which we’re hoping will dry out and not warp the gorgeous oak floor, and and we’re waiting to see what the damage is to our leather banquettes.
“Its one of those things I wish hadn’t happened. We had everything turned off and heaters in to keep the room warm but we’re in a very old building and just not used to these temperatures.”
I hope there aren’t any short-term job losses, as I’d imagine there isn’t enough work to keep the 40 or so staff that the restaurant has in work around his other Belfast places.
10 Responses to “Deane and out… for January anyway”
Leave a Reply
Read our online magazine
Subscribe
You can subscribe by email to receive e-mail updates about Food and Drink Ireland:
Subscribe through a RSS feed reader
Social Networks
Advertising
Sponsored Ads
fattakin said on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 12:51
Yeah its not a nice month to be closed and im sure it’ll cost a bomb to fix. He comes across as a nice enough guy, used to serve him in my old part time job a few years ago, he has good taste in wine unsurprisingly.
John Ferris said on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 12:53
I’m sure the insurance will cover it and duly increase big time! I’d love to have good taste in wine… I just can’t afford it.
2BiT said on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 17:01
Good taste costs nothing…it’s being able to fulfill those tastes that gets expensive.
John Ferris said on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 17:37
Well that’s true… but I’d like to be swilling £500 bottles of wine every weekend. Until then I will have to make do with my great taste at window shopping
2BiT said on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 20:33
back on the gargle so are ya?
Wine is one of those things (like audio gear) that you pay a disproportionate premium for small increases in quality. The difference between a £5 wine and a £50 is likely to be significant (though unfortunately not always!) but the difference between a £50 wine and a £500 will be much smaller (and in my opinion unlikely to justify the £450 price difference).
Then again I doubt I’ve ever even drunk a £50 bottle never mind a £500 pound one! Now there’s one fer a future article…
Manuel said on Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 23:52
nightmare for them….and the staff…..eek
John Ferris said on Thursday, January 14, 2010, 10:20
Ha ha 2BiT, of course, you’re right, I’d imagine there’s little difference and the most expensive bottle I’ve had was a €70 bottle I bought in Italy at my wedding (well Mrs F was buying all round her so I thought I better spend some money too before it went). Though I wouldn’t say no to a 1947 bottle of Petrus….
I know Manuel… eek is right. I wouldn’t like to be a member of staff there this week!
albarin blanco said on Friday, January 15, 2010, 12:53
Not a nice situation but for anyone who is interested my pipes are flowing well
John Ferris said on Friday, January 15, 2010, 12:59
Ha ha glad to hear they haven’t got rusty with old age…
| Food and Drink said on Tuesday, January 19, 2010, 14:47
[...] continue to have a single Michelin star for Michael Deane’s restaurant (which is currently closed because of burst pipes). Whether or not the 2011 guide will contain a star for the North is [...]