BBC chef announces permanent closure of 5-star restaurant as it ‘no longer feels like the right choice’

A TV chef has announced the shock closure of his five-star restaurant at an iconic UK market. It comes after the restaurateur said renewing the location’s release “no longer felt like the right choice”. The owner of Juma Kitchen in London’s Borough Market has announced the location will be closing at the end of the year Credit: Instagram / jumakitchen Philip Juma has previously appeared on MasterChef and Saturday Kitchen Credit: Instagram / jumakitchen Philip Juma, who has appeared on MasterChef: The Professionals and Saturday Kitchen, confirmed he will be closing Juma Kitchen at London’s Borough Market on December 31. The Iraqi-inspired street food eatery was first opened in 2019, following the success of Juma’s supper club, which he launched in 2012. Sign up for the Money newsletter Thank you! Now the self-taught chef plans to take the venture in “a new direction”, after seven years of rave reviews. The location has become known for its range of popular dishes, including kubba haleb, which are fried and braised stuffed dumplings in a variety of textures, shapes and flavours. Jama Kitchen’s bamia okra stew has been popular among vegans, and all food served at the location is halal. In an Instagram post announcing the closure, Juma said: “After seven beautiful years at Borough Market, I’ve decided to conclude our journey and close the shutters at the end of this year, 31 December 2026. “This wasn’t an easy decision, but renewing our Borough lease no longer feels like the right choice, both personally and professionally. “It’s now time to move forward and focus our energy on a new direction for the business.” Most read in Money Juma went on to praise his staff for helping to achieve “something really special”. “Borough Market gave us a home to put Iraqi cuisine in front of a global audience and build a community of people who continued to show up,” he said. “It became something way bigger than I had ever imagined, and I couldn’t be prouder of what we achieved.” He also thanked customers for their “openness, trust and willingness to embrace something new”. “I see incredible things ahead, with more food to share and more people to bring to the table,” Juma concluded. Comment now