Mystery surrounds the closure of a Farnham restaurant after it closed over the Christmas period, leaving customers confused after online bookings continued to be accepted.

The Luxe, a high-end Mediterranean bar and restaurant in Lion & Lamb Yard, was shut down unexpectedly before the New Year.

As of yesterday, the restaurant’s website was still taking reservations.

Customers have reported turning up for confirmed online bookings over the festive period only to find the premises closed and boarded up.

One social media user said: “I didn’t realise it had closed down. We decided to try it and had a confirmed online booking for New Year’s Eve dinner and received an email confirmation and a reminder. When we turned up on the night, the restaurant was completely closed and boarded up.

“I can see from other reviews that we weren’t the only ones this happened to, which is really disappointing, especially on New Year’s Eve. Hopefully the booking system via the website can be switched off to avoid other people being let down.”

Another resident said: “Walked by just the other day, it’s very closed, not just taking a break. Empty and cleared out with for rent signs up.”

As the premises are boarded up and the restaurant’s signage has been removed, it suggests the closure may be permanent.

The Herald has repeatedly contacted manager Jan Hasan Kaya for comment, but phone calls and messages have gone unanswered.

The restaurant has been at the centre of a long-running dispute with its landlord and was forced to close suddenly in June after enforcement agents entered the premises and changed the locks.

Management appealed and briefly reopened later in 2025 after a court decision allowed temporary access.

The venue’s history has also included anti-social incidents. In July 2024, a late-night vandalism attack saw windows smashed and parts of the interior damaged, prompting a police investigation and several arrests.

Before its closure last summer, several residents had complained about about noise and disruption, raising concerns about The Luxe’s impact on the surrounding town centre.