Beloved restaurant hailed ‘one of the best’ in city suddenly closes leaving diners crying it’s ‘such a shame’

A POPULAR restaurant praised as one of the city’s best Japanese dining spots has shut its doors for good, leaving loyal customers stunned and saddened.

Koi Ki, on Harborne High Street in Birmingham, closed in April after less than a year in business.

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The venue, which launched in 2023 inside a converted Victorian school building, quickly became a local favourite thanks to its eye-catching sushi platters, stylish décor, and vibrant atmosphere.

But the good times didn’t last.

Diners with bookings in the weeks ahead were contacted and told their reservations had been cancelled.

Many were left shocked, especially as some had visited only days earlier.

A legal notice posted in the restaurant’s window stated that the landlord had taken possession of the building due to unpaid rent, resulting in the lease being forfeited.

Inside, the once-busy dining space now stands empty, stripped of furniture and fittings.

According to records from Companies House, Koi Ki Harborne Ltd began winding up the business in March and appointed insolvency firm Begbies Traynor to manage the process.

Locals reacted with disappointment on social media.

In a Harborne Facebook group, one person wrote: “Wow that place is doomed, such a shame.

"Whatever goes in there never works out.”

Another added: “The pressure on hospitality is immense.

"Sadly I think there will be a lot more closures.”

One customer shared: “It has closed. We had a booking for April 17, but they rang the day before to say they had shut down.”

Others recalled enjoying recent meals.

“I ate there just over a week ago with family, so this is very recent. What a shame,” said one fan.

Another posted: “That’s a shame, food was delicious,” while a different commenter wrote: “They had something good going – it’s a real loss for Harborne.”

The restaurant’s sudden closure follows the loss of Sommar Bar from Harborne High Street earlier this year.

It's another blow to the area, which has seen a mix of both business closures and new openings in recent months.

Despite these setbacks, the high street has welcomed a few new arrivals, including Harborne Indian Kitchen, Vietnamese chain Pho, a new Acorn’s Children’s Hospice charity ‘superstore’, and a family-friendly soft play venue called The Little High Street.

Koi Ki’s closure is yet another sign of the deepening challenges facing the hospitality industry.

Businesses continue to struggle with the fallout from the pandemic, rising costs, and reduced consumer spending.

Craig Rachel, director at financial advisory firm AlixPartners, said the industry is still reeling from multiple pressures.

“Restaurants have seen the accumulation of external pressures in 2024, including rising utility costs, food prices and labour costs,” he said.

“Although some of these factors have stabilised, the overall impact is significant and will be exacerbated again in 2025 following the budget announcements.

"This has all affected profitability.”

He added that while some restaurant groups are finding ways to cut costs or raise prices, many independents are unable to keep up: “Consumer spending is under pressure, meaning price increases often don’t cover the gap.”

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