Hundreds of families were left disappointed and out of pocket on Christmas Day after the Miller and Carter restaurant in Hockley Heath unexpectedly closed. Diners had eagerly anticipated their festive meals, having paid over £100 per person for the renowned Christmas Day set menu, only to find themselves without a dinner option when the restaurant shut its doors.
The incident occurred on December 25, 2023, when management announced via social media that the restaurant would remain closed due to an “unexpected electrical issue” affecting the extractor fan system. The announcement was made shortly after 1:00 PM, leaving many patrons, who had reservations, scrambling for alternatives just an hour before their planned meals.
According to a representative from Miller and Carter, engineers were contacted promptly but could not resolve the issue in time. The restaurant’s Facebook statement explained, “There is no easy way to say this but Miller and Carter Hockley Heath has had to close our doors today due to an unexpected electrical issue in our kitchen.” The management team assured customers that they would be contacted in the coming days regarding their reservations.
For many families, this closure meant more than just a missed meal. James Munro, who had organized a Christmas gathering for himself and twelve relatives, described the situation as a “complete write-off.” Having made a reservation for 12:00 PM, he expressed frustration at the lack of communication. “We heard the news about half an hour before our booking,” he said. “Initially, we were sceptical and assumed they would sort the problem out.”
Munro and his family were left without any options for dinner, as they were not notified in advance. “Safe to say the day has been a write-off. If we had been informed early enough, we might have had time to pull some scraps together,” he lamented.
The restaurant’s abrupt closure left many patrons in a difficult position, particularly those who had paid in advance for a lavish meal. One customer noted that they had paid £105 per head and expressed concern about the waste of food that would result from the closure. “Could they have not just given all the food to the booked customers to take home and cook?” they questioned in a comment on the restaurant’s Facebook page.
While some customers were understanding of the situation, others were more critical, feeling that better communication could have alleviated some of the disappointment. Another diner commented, “I can only imagine the stock and prepped food that will be wasted,” reflecting the sentiment of many affected by the sudden closure.
The Daily Mirror has reached out to Miller and Carter Hockley Heath and its parent company, Mitchells and Butlers, for further comment regarding the closure and its impact on families who had made reservations. As of now, many families are left to navigate their Christmas Day without the festive meal they had anticipated, highlighting the challenges of last-minute cancellations in the hospitality industry.
