Eat the Bird, a popular restaurant chain with locations in Taunton, Exeter, and Cardiff, has permanently closed after its parent company entered liquidation. The closure followed a winding-up order after the business failed to pay its meat supplier, Fairfax Meadow Europe Ltd.
The original Eat the Bird restaurant, which opened in Pegasus Court, Taunton, in 2017, had gained a loyal following and even won the Street Food Dish of the Year award in 2023. Its success led to the opening of two additional branches in Exeter and Cardiff in 2022. However, all three venues have now ceased operations as of July 22.
Founder Daniel Aldridge confirmed to the Somerset County Gazette that some staff members had not yet received their wages following the sudden shutdown. “Some staff haven’t been paid yet, but they will be,” Aldridge said. “I am working closely with one of the directors, and we are working hard to get the situation sorted.”
READ MORE: Taunton’s Conquest Centre Expands Services to Meet Growing Demand for Therapeutic Support
READ MORE: Pedestrian Safety at Risk as Crossings and Footpaths Fall Into Disrepair in Glastonbury
Aldridge attributed the closure to a combination of rising costs and challenges arising in the post-COVID business environment. “We were weighed down by the hidden nasties post-COVID,” he explained. He also highlighted the struggles faced by local businesses in Taunton: “We have so many empty shops in Taunton, we need them filled. It takes people like me to get them sorted, it’s no good commenting on a shop’s closure via Facebook.”
The shutdown comes just one week after a viral review spotlighted the Exeter branch. Food reviewer Danny from the YouTube channel Rate My Takeaway praised two dishes—the Dirty Donald and My Big Fat Greek—as “absolutely fantastic.” The video attracted over 95,000 views before the restaurant closed.