Koj Cheltenham announces its permanent closure

Sad news for Cheltenham’s independent food scene as Japanese restaurant, Koj, announces it will not be reopening, with the latest Coronavirus restrictions on the hospitality industry being the final 'nail in the coffin'.

By Annabel Lammas  |  Published
Former MasterChef finalist Andrew Kojima has announced that his Cheltenham-based restaurant, Koj, will not reopen its doors.
Former MasterChef finalist Andrew Kojima has announced that his Cheltenham-based restaurant, Koj, will not reopen its doors.

Koj Cheltenham has announced that it will not be reopening in a heartfelt statement released on the restaurant’s website.

The news comes after the government issued further restrictions on the hospitality industry, following a national rise in Coronavirus infections, on Tuesday 22 September 2020.

Andrew Kojima, owner of Koj and former MasterChef finalist, said: ‘I had hoped that if both the virus itself and the guidelines began to stabilise, we would be able to reopen.

‘The recent rise in infections has prompted the government to impose further restrictions, which could last for at least six months. They are the final nail in the coffin for any hope and fight that I had left in me.’

Since opening on Regent Street in 2017, Koj has been popular among Cheltenham diners – with Kojima initially raising the funds to open the casual Japanese restaurant through crowdfunding.


Follow SoGlos on Facebook and sign-up to the weekly SoGlos lifestyle newsletter for the very latest Gloucestershire news stories.

More from Food & Drink