Heston Blumenthal declares return of the Fat Duck

Published on Wednesday 11 March 2009 20:50

HESTON Blumenthal is to reopen his award-winning restaurant today, more than two weeks after it was closed following a health scare.

The chef temporarily shut the Fat Duck as a precaution after about 40 diners said they had fallen ill.

The Health Protection Agency said the number of cases reported, going back to late January, had risen to about 400 since news of the outbreak spread.

Yesterday the HPA said the restaurant was safe to reopen for business.

Blumenthal said: "I am delighted that the Health Protection Agency and the local environmental health office has given us the all-clear to open the restaurant.

"While they are still awaiting outstanding test results we cannot comment further, but obviously we are overjoyed to be able to get back to business as normal," he said.

The HPA said it could not comment on the cause of the sickness, saying its investigations were still under way. A spokesman said the Michelin-starred restaurant in Bray, Berkshire, could reopen because management had agreed to comply with recommendations made by the health protection unit and the environmental health team.

A rigorous investigation was carried out over the past two weeks but so far no one source of the bug has been identified.

All Blumenthal's employees were tested and samples were also taken from diners who reportedly fell ill after a meal at the Fat Duck.