The team at Odette’s locks up for the final time

A NEIGHBOURHOOD restaurant in Primrose Hill closed its doors for good on Saturday after 46 years of fine dining.

Odette’s Restaurant opened on Regent’s Park Road in 1978, next door to health food shop Sesame – closed in 2012 – and a year earlier even than enduring Greek institution Lemonia, which continues trading at the other end of the high street.

Bryn Williams, owner and head chef at Odette’s for 16 years, announced in a statement two weeks ago that he had sold the business to “explore new adventures”.

Today, Regent’s Park Road looks very different from when Mr Williams took over the restaurant in 2008 – let alone in the late 1970s – but, as he told the New Journal, some things have stayed the same.

“Restaurants have come and gone but the heart of it hasn’t changed,” Mr Williams said. “The people haven’t changed. There is still that community, everybody looks out for each other.

“I’ve loved every minute of it. Being a chef is all about people and it’s the people I’ll miss – the customers, the staff, the suppliers.”

Mr Williams even met his wife, Texas singer Sharleen Spiteri, at Odette’s when they crossed paths on the stairs.

He added: “If I could take the stairs with me I would, but the new owners might not be too happy about that.”

Heralding from Denbigh in North Wales, Mr Williams has worked under renowned chefs Marco Pierre White and Michel Roux Jr.

He appeared on the television programme Great British Menu in 2006 and won the opportunity to cook a fish course for the Queen’s 80th birthday celebrations.

Mr Williams has three other restaurants – two in Wales, one in Switzerland – and has published three books during his time at Odette’s.

Primrose Hill resident and fan of Odette’s Daniel Baxter said: “Primrose Hill has been very lucky to have one of London’s finest restaurants here on the doorstep. I wish Mr Williams all the best in his new endeavours. He is a fantastic chef and fully deserves his success.”

While the closure of Odette’s has come as a surprise to customers, Mr Williams has been working on the sale of the business behind the scenes for many months.

He selected the new owner from several options, and said he thinks they will be a big part of the Primrose Hill community.

At the last service on Saturday night, brill, lamb, asparagus and chocolate soufflé were all on the menu, and staff and customers stayed up until the early hours enjoying some of the restaurant’s remaining wine.

Mr Williams said: “I just want to share my thanks with the people of Primrose Hill. I’ve enjoyed every single minute of being here, and it’s not goodbye, it’s see you later. Odette’s will pop up again.”