The owner of a family restaurant has announced they are looking to 'pass the baton' to a new owner after 35 years at a prime location in Buckinghamshire. 

The owners of Gilbey’s Restaurant in Old Amersham announced “with a heavy and sad heart” they were selling the neighbourhood restaurant.

They were hit by a “perfect storm” of Brexit, Covid, lockdowns, the war in Ukraine, inflation and the energy crisis, making trading “very hard,” restaurateur Lin Gilbey said.

The restaurant remains open and trading as normal until a new owner is found.  

She said: “My business partner and wonderful husband Michael died in June last year and quite frankly, the struggles I am dealing with have become too much. 

Bucks Free Press: Gilbey's Restaurant in Old Amersham Gilbey's Restaurant in Old Amersham (Image: Rightmove/Christie & Co)

“It is time to hand on the baton to another operator who I am hoping will do justice to the best restaurant site in lovely Old Amersham and look after our much-loved customers.”

Over the years, Lin has watched Old Amersham become a destination for cafes, restaurants and pubs “of all shapes and sizes" since they opened. 

During the pandemic, Gilbey’s set up an awning as part of efforts to utilise outdoor space to keep hospitality going.

Buckinghamshire Council later asked them to submit a retrospective planning application to retain it.

Lin said the removal of the canopy was “one more nail in the coffin” for the "beleaguered" restaurant.

Bucks Free Press: The canopy outside Gilbey's The canopy outside Gilbey's (Image: Rightmove/Christie & Co)

Having to sell the restaurant felt “desperately sad,” she said.

She said: “Observing customers leaving Gilbey's happier as a result of being with us is one of life's greatest delights. Tracking the changing food and wine trends has been a tremendous challenge but we have always moved with the times. 

"Michael, my husband was an expert wine buyer and importer for the restaurant and I always had a great passion for food, working closely with our chefs on the ever-changing menus.”

She also praised the “remarkable members” of Gilbey’s over the years, saying working with them has been “right up there as the highlight of my long career in the restaurant business.”

“How lucky I have been to be surrounded by such wonderful people who have worked so tirelessly to ensure Gilbey's is the success that it is.  For a restaurant to be an on-going success for such a long time is always collaborative - no one person walks off with the prize and applause,” she said. 

Lin's other restaurant Gilbey's Bar Restaurant & Townhouse in Eton, which opened in 1975, will continue trading as normal. 

She recently bought the next door property to offer corporate entertaining and business meetings in the private dining area. 

"Sadly, our neighbourhood restaurant in Old Amersham has none of these add-ons so relying on our lovely local customers only, most of whom are experiencing a cost of living crisis, has resulted in reducing our profitability and viability," she added.