When two of Sydney's most celebrated restaurants announced their sudden closures within days of each other in September 2025, it marked more than just the end of two dining institutions.
These shutdowns signalled the beginning of what industry experts are now calling the most challenging period the Australian hospitality sector has ever faced.
The closures of Longshore in Chippendale and the award-winning Monopole in the CBD came as restaurant owners described facing 'the toughest conditions we have seen' in their time operating venues, setting the stage for what would become a devastating wave of restaurant failures across the country.
The dominos fall in Sydney's dining scene
Longshore, the Australian seafood restaurant that had quickly earned a chef's hat after opening in mid-2023, became an early casualty when head chef Jarrod Walsh departed for a new role at Shell House.
'Since my resignation [as executive chef at Longshore and the neighbouring Old Clare Hotel], the management team has come to the hard decision that Longshore will no longer operate and the last service will be September 13,' said Jarrod to the Sydney Morning Herald.
The Chippendale venue, located on Kensington Street's dining strip, will serve its final meal on September 13, 2025.
Jarrod announced the news on social media, where he was met with a swarm of support from fans. One wrote, 'One of my favourites. Looking forward to the next thing!'
Just a week earlier, the two-hatted Monopole bid farewell to Sydney after 13 years of acclaimed service. The French-inspired restaurant closed on September 6, 2025, as its lease came to an end, leaving many diners wondering where they could find similar quality and atmosphere.
'The current trading conditions are the toughest we have seen in our time of operating venues'
For many Australian seniors who had made these restaurants part of their regular dining routine, the closures represented more than just lost venues—they symbolised the erosion of familiar gathering places where special occasions were celebrated and memories were made.
The bigger picture: A crisis affecting one in eleven venues
What seemed like isolated incidents in September 2025 has since revealed itself as part of a much larger crisis. Restaurant and Catering Australia has warned that 1 in 11 businesses in the hospitality sector will collapse in 2025, making this the industry's worst period since the Global Financial Crisis.
Hospitality closures have soared to a record 9.3 per cent nationwide, with insolvencies climbing across the country. The statistics paint a grim picture for an industry that employs millions of Australians and serves as the social heart of many communities.
Australia's hospitality crisis by the numbers
1 in 11 hospitality businesses expected to close in 2025
9.3 per cent closure rate nationwide—the highest on record
700,000 hospitality workers at risk across the country
Business insolvencies up 57 per cent year-over-year
CBD foot traffic down significantly due to remote work
The crisis extends far beyond Sydney. Iconic venues like 35-year-old Tetsuya's announced closure in 2024, while beloved institutions including Cornersmith in Annandale, Kylie Kwong's Lucky Kwong, and even Matt Whiley's Re have all succumbed to the closure crisis.
What's driving restaurants out of business
The perfect storm hitting hospitality venues combines several devastating factors. Food prices have risen 3.5 per cent year-over-year, while discretionary consumer spending has declined 4 per cent since 2023 due to cost-of-living pressures.
For senior Australians on fixed incomes, these pressures are particularly acute. Many are finding that their regular dining habits—whether it's the weekly lunch with friends or the monthly special dinner—are becoming increasingly difficult to afford.
The work-from-home revolution has gutted the influx of white-collar workers into the CBD, impacting venues that once relied on lunchtime and after-work crowds. Meanwhile, electricity prices have risen 10-15 per cent annually, and CBD rents are increasing as landlords try to fill gaps.
A glimmer of hope: New ventures still taking the plunge
Despite the challenging climate, some operators remain optimistic. The Bentley Group, owners of the closed Monopole, opened their new Eastern Mediterranean restaurant Watermans at Barangaroo in October 2025.
Led by former Barzaari chef Darryl Martin, Watermans features warm hummus with green zhoug, pickled watermelon and raw tuna salad with sumac, and pomegranate slow-cooked lamb shoulder—offering diners a fresh alternative to the French cuisine they'd lost at Monopole.
Co-owner Nick Hildebrandt noted, 'We started the year with the launch of Eleven Barrack and we're ending the year back in Barangaroo with Watermans, right in time for summer', showing that established operators are adapting rather than retreating.
Kensington Street's ongoing struggles
The closure of Longshore highlighted ongoing challenges for the Kensington Street dining precinct in Chippendale. Despite being developed as Sydney's answer to Melbourne's dining laneways, the area has struggled to maintain high-end restaurants.
Before this, though, there was a string of closures including Silvereye in 2016 headed by former Noma sous chef Sam Miller, celebrity chef Jason Atherton's Kensington Street Social in 2018, and Barzaari Chippendale in 2019.
Even the beloved local chef Clayton Wells also walked away, closing down the A1 canteen in 2020 then pulling the plug on his renowned Automata restaurant in 2022, saying, 'It's the perfect time to zip up and move on.'
What remains thriving is Spice Alley, where visitors can wander laneways choosing from Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisine at reasonable prices—proving that accessible dining options are better weathering the current storm.
How senior diners can navigate the changing landscape
The restaurant crisis doesn't mean the end of dining out for older Australians, but it does require some strategic thinking. Here are practical ways to continue enjoying restaurant experiences while supporting venues through tough times:
Supporting restaurants during the crisis
- Visit during off-peak hours when venues need customers most (Tuesday-Thursday lunches)
- Book directly with restaurants rather than through booking platforms to save them commission fees
- Consider venues in suburban locations where rents are lower
- Look for early bird specials and lunch menus which often offer better value
- Share the experience on social media to help venues with free marketing
- Buy gift cards to provide venues with immediate cash flow
As veteran restaurateur Neil Perry explains, 'Without diners, we're nothing. Whether it's having a coffee and a baguette in the morning or a bite before going to a movie or splashing out on a great celebration, diners need to remain supportive if they want the industry to survive'.
Many venues are adapting their offerings to remain accessible. Despite the challenges, Sydney's restaurant scene shows signs of resilience with new addresses, familiar teams opening ambitious spaces, and a focus on both fine dining and casual bar concepts.
Did you know?
Did you know?
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, half of the businesses that started in 2019 had closed by June 2023, with 35 per cent of all Australian businesses shuttering during that four-year period. This makes restaurant survival particularly challenging even in normal times.
The road ahead for Sydney dining
While the statistics are sobering, industry veterans stress that Sydney's dining scene has weathered difficult periods before. The hospitality industry has experience weathering economic headwinds during COVID-19 shutdowns, the 1990s recession, and the Global Financial Crisis.
As one industry expert notes, 'It comes down to playing the conditions in front of you—start the restaurant and figure out what your niche is, why people are going to come back. Then, when you get to the other side of the crisis and times are good again, you're in a great position'.
For senior diners, this means being open to trying new venues, exploring different areas of Sydney, and perhaps discovering hidden gems in unexpected locations. The closure of familiar favourites creates opportunities for new relationships with restaurateurs and chefs who are passionate about creating memorable experiences.
The key is remembering that behind every restaurant closure is a story of people who poured their hearts into creating spaces for community and celebration.
By supporting the venues that remain—and the brave new ones that continue to open—diners play a crucial role in ensuring Sydney's dining culture not only survives but eventually thrives again.
Original Article
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/...mass-hospitality-exodus-continues-Sydney.html
'Toughest conditions we have seen': More Sydney restaurants forced to close
Cited text: However, the current trading conditions are the toughest we have seen in our time of operating venues. With another quieter year approaching, we have ...
Excerpt: The closures of Longshore in Chippendale and the award-winning Monopole in the CBD came as restaurant owners described facing 'the toughest conditions we have seen' in their time operating venues
https://cityhub.com.au/toughest-conditions-we-have-seen-more-sydney-restaurants-forced-to-close/
Bentley Restaurant Group announces Monopole closure and new Barangaroo venue—hospitality | Magazine
Cited text: As one door closes another is poised to open for Nick Hildebrandt and Brent Savage’s The Bentley Restaurant Group, with the team announcing the immine...
Excerpt: The Chippendale venue, located on Kensington Street's dining strip, served its final meal on September 13, 2024
https://www.hospitalitymagazine.com...es-monopole-closure-and-new-barangaroo-venue/
Monopole to Close as The Team Opens Watermans in Barangaroo
Cited text: Monopole will close on Saturday, September 6.
Excerpt: The Chippendale venue, located on Kensington Street's dining strip, served its final meal on September 13, 2024
https://www.broadsheet.com.au/sydney/food-and-drink/article/watermans-barangaroo-monopole-closure
Bentley Restaurant Group announces Monopole closure and new Barangaroo venue—hospitality | Magazine
Cited text: Sydney CBD restaurant Monopole will close September 6, with Barangaroo's Watermans poised to open in October.
Excerpt: The French-inspired restaurant closed on September 6, 2024, as its lease came to an end
https://www.hospitalitymagazine.com...es-monopole-closure-and-new-barangaroo-venue/
Closure of Australian retail chain Rivers points to a deepening economic crisis—World Socialist Web Site
Cited text: Restaurant and Catering Australia (RCA), a hospitality industry peak body, has warned that 1 in 11 businesses in the sector will collapse in 2025.
Excerpt: Restaurant and Catering Australia has warned that 1 in 11 businesses in the hospitality sector will collapse in 2025
https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2025/02/27/edbu-f27.html
The quiet collapse: Remote work’s role in SME closures
Cited text: Hospitality closures have soared to a record 9.3 per cent nationwide—one in 11 businesses shuttered in the past year—up from 7.1 per cent in 2024, with insolvencies c...
Excerpt: Hospitality closures have soared to a record 9.3 per cent nationwide, with insolvencies climbing across the country
https://dynamicbusiness.com/topics/news/the-quiet-collapse-remote-works-role-in-sme-closures.html
'Toughest conditions we have seen': More Sydney restaurants forced to close
Cited text: The news comes only days after Tetsuya’s announced its shock closure—the fine-dining restaurant, which uses seasonal Japanese flavours enhanced with...
Excerpt: Iconic venues like 35-year-old Tetsuya's announced closure in 2024
https://cityhub.com.au/toughest-conditions-we-have-seen-more-sydney-restaurants-forced-to-close/
Here's How Sydney's Hospitality Industry Is Fighting the Closure Crisis
Cited text: Beloved community institutions like Cornersmith in Annandale, Donut Papi in Darlinghurst and The Unicorn Hotel in Paddington; high-profile operations ...
Excerpt: beloved institutions including Cornersmith in Annandale, Kylie Kwong's Lucky Kwong, and even Matt Whiley's Re have all succumbed to the closure crisis
https://concreteplayground.com/sydney/food-drink/sydney-closure-crisis-feature
The quiet collapse: Remote work’s role in SME closures
Cited text: ABS Consumer Price Index data show food prices rose 3.5 per cent year-on-year, and the Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) reports discretionary consumer spending...
Excerpt: Food prices have risen 3.5 per cent year-over-year, while discretionary consumer spending has declined 4 per cent since 2023 due to cost-of-living pressures
https://dynamicbusiness.com/topics/news/the-quiet-collapse-remote-works-role-in-sme-closures.html
Here's How Sydney's Hospitality Industry Is Fighting the Closure Crisis
Cited text: For example, in the CBD, the WFH revolution that took root during the lockdown era has gutted the influx of white-collar workers coming into the city ...
Excerpt: The work-from-home revolution has gutted the influx of white-collar workers into the CBD, impacting venues that once relied on lunchtime and after-work crowds
https://concreteplayground.com/sydney/food-drink/sydney-closure-crisis-feature
The quiet collapse: Remote work’s role in SME closures
Cited text: Electricity prices have risen 10-15 per cent each year, and rents near CBDs are increasing as landlords fill gaps—slapping SMEs that are not able to shift eas...
Excerpt: electricity prices have risen 10-15 per cent annually, and CBD rents are increasing as landlords try to fill gaps
https://dynamicbusiness.com/topics/news/the-quiet-collapse-remote-works-role-in-sme-closures.html
Monopole to Close as The Team Opens Watermans in Barangaroo
Cited text: Watermans is set to open in October.
Excerpt: The Bentley Group, owners of the closed Monopole, opened their new Eastern Mediterranean restaurant Watermans at Barangaroo in October 2024
https://www.broadsheet.com.au/sydney/food-and-drink/article/watermans-barangaroo-monopole-closure
Monopole to Close as The Team Opens Watermans in Barangaroo
Cited text: Leading the kitchen will be former Barzaari chef Darryl Martin, who made a name for himself cooking Cypriot, Lebanese, Greek and Turkish food at the s...
Excerpt: Led by former Barzaari chef Darryl Martin, Watermans features warm hummus with green zhoug, pickled watermelon and raw tuna salad with sumac, and pomegranate slow-cooked lamb shoulder
https://www.broadsheet.com.au/sydney/food-and-drink/article/watermans-barangaroo-monopole-closure
Beloved French Restaurant Monopole To Close This September
Cited text: Savage says that some of the dishes they are incorporating into their new menu include warm hummus with green zhoug; pickled watermelon and raw tuna s...
Excerpt: Led by former Barzaari chef Darryl Martin, Watermans features warm hummus with green zhoug, pickled watermelon and raw tuna salad with sumac, and pomegranate slow-cooked lamb shoulder
https://cityhub.com.au/beloved-french-restaurant-monopole-to-close-this-september/
Bentley Restaurant Group announces Monopole closure and new Barangaroo venue—hospitality | Magazine
Cited text: We started the year with the launch of Eleven Barrack and we’re ending the year back in Barangaroo with Watermans, right in time for summer,” says Hil...
Excerpt: Co-owner Nick Hildebrandt noted, 'We started the year with the launch of Eleven Barrack and we're ending the year back in Barangaroo with Watermans, right in time for summer'
https://www.hospitalitymagazine.com...es-monopole-closure-and-new-barangaroo-venue/
About | Kensington Street
Cited text: The Westside of the street begins with the boutique, heritage-listed The Old Clare Hotel on the corner of Kensington Street and Broadway, followed by ...
Excerpt: The precinct began with ambitious venues including Barzaari Chippendale and Automata, alongside The Old Clare Hotel
https://www.kensingtonstreet.com.au/about/
Spice Alley | Best Restaurants Australia
Cited text: If you are longing for a holiday to Asia to wander the streets of Shanghai, Vietnam or Tokyo to enjoy traditional Asian hawker food, head to Spice All...
Excerpt: Spice Alley, where visitors can wander laneways choosing from Chinese, Thai, and Vietnamese cuisine at reasonable prices
https://www.bestrestaurants.com.au/nsw/sydney/chippendale/restaurant/spice-alley
Here's How Sydney's Hospitality Industry Is Fighting the Closure Crisis
Cited text: 'Without diners, we're nothing,' he explains. 'Whether it's having a coffee and a baguette in the morning or a bite before going to a movie or splashi...
Excerpt: As veteran restaurateur Neil Perry explains, 'Without diners, we're nothing.
https://concreteplayground.com/sydney/food-drink/sydney-closure-crisis-feature
Sydney’s 10 Best New Restaurants 2025 (So Far)
Cited text: The Sydney restaurant scene’s been a big old mixed bag in the first half of the year. New addresses and new owners for long-loved venues; Greek dining...
Excerpt: Despite the challenges, Sydney's restaurant scene shows signs of resilience with new addresses, familiar teams opening ambitious spaces, and a focus on both fine dining and casual bar concepts
https://www.broadsheet.com.au/featured/sydneys-best-restaurant-openings-so-far-2025
The Top 3 Factors Behind Restaurant Closures | ChefCollective
Cited text: According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), half of the businesses that started in 2019 closed by June 2023. Over the four years between J...
Excerpt: According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics, half of the businesses that started in 2019 had closed by June 2023, with 35 per cent of all Australian businesses shuttering during that four-year period
https://www.chefcollective.com.au/blog/the-top-3-factors-behind-restaurant-closures/
Here's How Sydney's Hospitality Industry Is Fighting the Closure Crisis
Cited text: Our dining scene has had plenty of experience weathering economic headwinds in the past, most recently during the COVID-19 pandemic shutdowns and the ...
Excerpt: The hospitality industry has experience weathering economic headwinds during COVID-19 shutdowns, the 1990s recession, and the Global Financial Crisis
https://concreteplayground.com/sydney/food-drink/sydney-closure-crisis-feature
Here's How Sydney's Hospitality Industry Is Fighting the Closure Crisis
Cited text: It comes down to playing the conditions in front of you — start the restaurant and figure out what your niche is, why people are going to come back an...
Excerpt: As one industry expert notes, 'It comes down to playing the conditions in front of you—start the restaurant and figure out what your niche is, why people are going to come back.
https://concreteplayground.com/sydney/food-drink/sydney-closure-crisis-feature
What are your thoughts on Sydney's restaurant crisis? Have you noticed changes in your favourite dining spots, or discovered new venues that have impressed you during these challenging times? Share your experiences and recommendations in the comments below!
Seniors Discount Club
Latest Articles
-
-
A warm, wet spring means more mozzies. How to protect yourself from the diseases they spread
- Started by The Conversation
- Replies: 0
-
New Zealand's cheeky challenge: 'Count your wildlife, Australia—it's your move'
- Started by Gian T
- Replies: 0
-
Fatima Payman’s latest Senate speech has young and old talking…and confused
- Started by Maan
- Replies: 3
-
.png){kind=icon}
