The chain is closing its branch after 14 years

A POPULAR restaurant in Hampstead has closed after 14 years in the High Street.

Côte Brasserie is being replaced by the Giggling Squid, a group of Thai food restaurants from Brighton.

Angela Cooper, a resident who was a regular diner at the Hampstead branch, said that Côte “will be missed”, adding: “I have only been to one Giggling Squid branch in Wimbledon, which was very nice. However, the Thai restaurant next to Côte in Hampstead closed recently through lack of support and high prices. Do the people of Hampstead want a new Thai restaurant? Time will tell.”

The Hampstead Cote closure follows a recent exit by the chain from Highgate, which is to be taken over by Lussmanns Sustainable Kitchen – an upmarket seafood restaurant.

Founder Andrei Lussmann said: “After 20 years serving our fabulous, loyal customers in Hertfordshire, I’m delighted to be taking the Lussmanns formula for affordable, ethical dining to Highgate, north London, later this summer.”

Highgate Côte first opened in 2010 with resident welcoming the arrival of the “hip” new restaurant.

Côte has closed 20 restaurants across the country in the last four years ago.

A spokesperson for Giggling Squid said that it was too early to confirm an opening date.