A Jersey restaurant has closed after its owners said rising costs and “significant staffing challenges” had made it impossible to continue.
St Aubin-based ‘Ob Mizi – At The Table‘, previously known as The Old Barn and based in St Peter, confirmed last night that it had permanently closed its doors on 16 August.
Announcing the closure, the team stressed that the decision had not been made for “personal reasons”, following rumours about the business.
Instead, they pointed to the increasingly difficult environment facing the hospitality industry.
“Like many in our industry, we have been fighting against the tide of rising costs, soaring bills, and significant staffing challenges,” they said.
The owners also reflected on their decision to relocate the business from St Peter to St Aubin.
“With the benefit of hindsight, we realise that this move may have been a mistake, and it certainly contributed to the immense pressure we were already under.
We have been fighting against the tide of rising costs, soaring bills, and significant staffing challenges
ob mizi
“Despite our best efforts to navigate this difficult climate, the reality of the situation made it impossible for us to continue.”
The team said they were “truly devastated” by the closure and thanked customers who had supported them both at Ob Mizi and during their time at The Old Barn.
“Your support meant the world to us, and we are so grateful for the memories we created together,” they said.
They added that they hoped their paths would “cross again in the future”.
The closure comes amid continuing pressure on Jersey businesses from rising costs and difficulties recruiting staff.
Statistics Jersey’s latest Business Tendency Survey – a health check on Island businesses – found that 66% of non-finance businesses reported higher non-labour input costs in the three months to June, while 52% reported higher labour costs.
Almost half – 47% – said their profitability had fallen, compared with just 16% reporting an increase.
Staff and skills shortages also remained the most commonly reported constraint across Jersey businesses, cited by 50%, while 28% reported a lack of demand as a limiting factor.
Businesses facing constraints said their most common responses were to hire or upskill staff, adjust prices or services, and reduce operating costs.
