To say that the coronavirus pandemic and the resulting lockdown hit the hospitality industry hard would be an understatement, but many have found a way to survive in one way or another. Restaurants became delivery businesses, some reopened as caterers and grocers, and pubs started making pints and cocktails to go.
However, the road will be difficult for many, even when patrons are allowed to reenter - social distancing rules will limit the number of people the sites can serve, which will not be enough to cover expenses. We are still waiting for the government to give the green light to reopen, but some restaurants have already decided not to return once the lockdown is lifted. Here is the list for now ...
The Ledbury - Brett Graham has not confirmed that the two Michelin-starred restaurants will be closed forever, but it will be for the foreseeable future. He said he was unable to operate the restaurant with social distancing measures in place, so the owner and suppliers were paid in full and staff were laid off.
The dairy and Counter-culture - Robin and Sarah Gill will not reopen The Dairy in Clapham and Counter Culture next door after their business suffers a big financial blow during the lockdown. The couple still have Sorella and Darby's and Robin oversees the food at Great Scotland Yard and Birch in Cheshunt.
Piebury Corner - the popular pie restaurant is closing its two locations as it is no longer financially viable to pay the full rent with the big loss of business, mainly from Arsenal fans on match days. The owners are looking for a location for a pie stand near the Emirates when the land reopens for fans.
KraPow - the team closed the Clapton restaurant due to Covid issues, but you can still get your Thai fix from The Heathcote & Star in Leytonstone, The Adam & Eve in Homerton, The Three Crowns in Stokey and on Deliveroo.
Emilie - Owners Will Lander and Dan Morgenthau, who also run Quality Chop House, Quality Wines, Portland and Clipstone, have closed Emilia inside the Bonhams Auction House in Mayfair because the location made it impossible to operate after the lockdown.
Tree house - Dominique Ansel closes his shop in London. Treehouse, which only opened earlier this year, has been closed since the lockdown and will not be returning. He also closes his Belgravia bakery at the end of August, so this is your last chance to get those pastries.
Lion cub - Mr Lyan and Doug McMaster's sustainability-focused bar and restaurant that blurred the line between food and drink will not return after the lockdown.
Oklava Bakery + Wine - Selin Kiazim is closing his Fitzrovia site because there was not enough attendance at the center to keep the place open. Shoreditch Oklava remains open.
Lucknow 49 - Dhruv Mittal is closing his Mughal-focused restaurant in Mayfair, saying owners unwilling to adjust rent and distancing measures have made it impossible for the place to survive. He is also looking to move his other restaurant, Dum Biryani, out of Soho to keep him alive.
The Hoxton Frog and Ugly butterfly - Adam Handling is permanently closing its zeo-waste subsidiary Ugly Butterfly in Chelsea, while The Frog Hoxton will close at its current location as Handling seeks to relocate elsewhere in East London.
Jidori - the Japanese seal of Dalston known for its yakitori is closing its doors, after struggling to cope with the effects of the pandemic despite managing a take-out service.
Bizarre scene - after leaving Kurobuta to open Freak Scene, first as a pop-up and then as a permanent restaurant in Soho, Scott Hallsworth revealed that thanks to COVID-19 and the greedy owners, the restaurant is not coming back.
Bodega Rita's - Coal Drops Yard sandwich shop is not reopening as owners Missy Flynn and Gabe Price have said they cannot continue to meet their long-term goals with trade restrictions in place, but the pair are looking for more large premises.
Cereal Killer Coffee - Camden and Shoreditch cafes say well done in London. The long shutdown due to the lockdown and the uncertain future of the industry means reopening is not viable for owners Alan and Gary Keery.
Sardine - Alex Jackson will not reopen Sardine after the lockdown because despite a sympathetic owner, the small restaurant would struggle to implement social distancing measures and trade effectively.
Darjeeling Express - Asma Khan will not be returning to Kingly Court as she is looking for a bigger space for Darjeeling Express as doing 200 covers on a 50 cover site was becoming too difficult. She was already looking to move before the pandemic, but it will just take a little longer now.
The greenhouse - the Mayfair restaurant, two Michelin stars, has closed its doors. Chef Alex Dilling didn't give a specific reason, but other places owned by Greenhouse's parent company closed due to financial issues earlier this year.
Indian accent - Mayfair restaurant will not reopen, citing social distancing rules, running costs of being on one of the city's most expensive streets and UK economic uncertainty as reasons.
Moxon's Next Door - the branched restaurant of the Dulwich fishmongers will not return but the team is looking to expand the shop and add a grocery store and a cafe.
Shepherdess Cafe - The Hoxton Fat Spoon has served locals for 37 years, but the cafe is unable to reopen, with landlords citing rising rents, COVID-19 and unfriendly landlords as the reason.
Mermaid at the Goring - Nathan Outlaw only opened his seafood restaurant inside the Belgravia Hotel last year, but he will focus on his Cornwall businesses once the lockdown is lifted instead of reopening in London.
The Caprice - the A-list favorite, which has been open for 38 years in its current incarnation, will not reopen in the same location, although there are early plans to relocate the restaurant.
Wahlburgers - after arriving in the capital after much fanfare last year, the London outpost of Mark Wahlberg's burger chain is not coming back.
Texture - the Michelin-starred Scandinavian-influenced restaurant in Marylebone run by Agnar Sverrisson has closed for good.
