Co-owners David Hart and Polly Pleasence said in an Instagram statement that the decision to close the restaurant came as a result of the lease coming to an end and that they planned to ‘rest and recharge’ before starting work on their next venture.
“After almost eight years of trading we have decided that we will be calling time on The Folkestone Wine Company,” the statement said.
“Our lease will come to an end in May and we feel this is as good a time as any to take a sabbatical, rest and recharge before we start work on our next project.
“We will continue trading until the middle of May.”
The restaurant’s final service will be Sunday lunch on the 18 May.
The Folkstone Wine Company has long been considered a local favourite that serves a menu inspired by the owner’s travels around Europe.
It received a positive review from The Guardian’s Grace Dent back in 2018, who described it as ‘an unpretentious labour of love, with something to suit everyone’.
In 2023, chef Angela Hartnett listed The Folkstone Wine Company as one of her favourite UK restaurants in a piece for Condé Nast Traveller.