The curse of 11 Bridge Street continues. A year (almost to the day) since Neil Perry's Cantonese fine diner opened its doors, the restaurateur has announced its retirement.

Jade Temple — which will close its doors tomorrow, Saturday, June 30 — was the third restaurant in as many years to frequent the historic building. The acclaimed Rockpool Est 1989 closed in 2016 (after enjoyed a 17-year residency in the building), then Eleven Bridge only survived six months in the space.

There were hints to Jade Temple being on rocky ground, when it announced earlier this year that it was shifting its cuisine focus from Cantonese to pan-Asian. While cuisine changes aren't uncommon in the restaurant world, with the site's recent history, this one seemed particularly ominous.

Rockpool Dining Group released a statement on the closure saying, "as beautiful and refined as Jade Temple is, the restaurant didn't resonate with diners the way we thought it would."

This time the space will not be reinvented into a new restaurant, instead transforming into a private event destination hosting functions for the restaurant group's charity, Rockpool Foundation.

Jade Temple will close its doors after dinner service on Saturday, June 30.

Published on June 29, 2018 by Samantha Teague