‘Spiralling energy and food costs’ hit Taunton wine bar

The Little Wine Shop, Social Wine Bar and Tapas on Foundry Road, will move to Ma Cuisine bistro on Riverside Place.

The owner of both restaurants, Philippe Messy, said he made the decision after the rise in energy and food costs made it difficult to run two different places in different locations.

The last night of Ma Cuisine as such will be September 3 and after this date there will be two businesses under one roof.

Ma Cuisine bistro, where The Little Wine Shop will be moved to

Mr Messy said electricity costs, which spiked up in April, are three times higher now compared to last year’s.

He also said food costs went up earlier this year between January and February.

He was then forced to move his wine shops into his other premises and had to make redundancies.

Mr Messy also added that “the government, instead of being proactive, is being reactive”.

A message from the restaurant said: “It is with great sadness that we have to close Ma Cuisine.

“Spiralling energy costs and food costs do not make it viable to have both Ma Cuisine and the Little Wine Shop open in two different places.

“Although restaurants are places of food, joy, and happiness, unfortunately, they are also businesses.

“The Little Wine Shop will move to the site of Ma Cuisine. We will serve tapas, but also some of the main courses from Ma Cuisine’s menu; a smaller cocktails list will be available too.

“Andy, our chef, remains with us as do Paul, Will, and Izzy. We will also have the wineshop and delicatessen open.

“In short, we will have the two businesses under one roof. The last night as ‘Ma Cuisine’ as such will be September 3.

“We will have more of a Mediterranean accent than French.

“We are still there, come and see us, we would love to see you. Thank you for your support.”

The restaurant’s new Instagram feed is @thelittlewineshopsocial.