Winchester’s Parchment Street lost another dining destination last month when Kushi Coconut, the South Asian fusion restaurant opened by Shah Abdul in June 2023, ceased trading after just 13 months. The shutters came down quietly at the end of August, leaving only a faded “Closed” sign on the glass.
Abdul had pitched the concept as a showcase for his grandmother’s recipes, reimagined with modern plating and ingredients sourced within 30 miles of Winchester. Head chef Mo, a veteran who once cooked for the Hairy Bikers, retired again after the closure.
Key Points
- ⚡ 13-month tenure ended in August 2024
- 📍 29 Parchment Street, Winchester’s prime dining corridor
- 👨🍳 Head chef Mo, former BBC food programme contributor
Landlord Mohamed Bakhaty confirmed two prospective tenants had walked away in recent weeks, but a third prospect is now in exclusive negotiations. “The street is busier than ever since Bottega del Mastro opened last spring,” Bakhaty said. “With the footfall we’re seeing, it’s only a matter of time before someone steps in.”
| Street | Current vacancy | Recent openings |
|---|---|---|
| Parchment Street | 1 | Bottega del Mastro (March 2024), Thai House (July 2024) |
Local food critics had praised Kushi Coconut’s black cod moilee and smoked aubergine chat, but cited unpredictable service and portion sizes that failed to justify £18 mains. One regular diner, retired teacher Priya Kapoor, said, “The flavours were extraordinary, but we left hungry twice in four visits.”
💡 Pro Tip
When a restaurant closes after little more than a year, ask whether the concept outran the execution. Winchester’s dining scene now averages just 18 months for independent openings before turnover.
Bakhaty declined to confirm if Abdul had paid rent beyond August or whether unpaid suppliers had triggered the closure. Hampshire Chamber of Commerce said it had not fielded formal complaints from creditors. Winchester City Council’s licensing team confirmed no enforcement action had been recorded.
📋 By The Numbers
- 13 months — Average lifespan of Winchester independent restaurants opened since 2022
- £43 — Average dinner bill for two at Kushi Coconut before service charge
- 3 — Prospective tenants currently negotiating Parchment Street leases
The closure leaves Winchester’s high street dining map uneven: four new venues opened this year, two closed, and three remain unoccupied. Analysts point to rising rent-to-turnover ratios as the primary pressure point for independents.
- 🔍 2024 data shows Parchment Street rents up 14% year-on-year
- ⚠️ City centre footfall still 8% below 2019 levels despite Italian and Thai openings
- 📊 Only 38% of 2023 independents remain trading in 2024
Bakhaty expects a replacement operator to be announced by October half-term, aiming for a late-November launch to capitalise on the Christmas market. Abdul could not be reached for comment; calls to his listed number went straight to voicemail.
