Christmas Day was wrecked for scores of families after a popular Midlands restaurant was forced to shut its kitchen and cancel all festive bookings at the last minute.
Kitchen Fault Forces Sudden Closure
The Miller & Carter steakhouse on Stratford Road in Hockley Heath, near Solihull, had to close its doors on Christmas Day due to an unexpected electrical issue. The problem, discovered at 9am during routine safety checks, involved a faulty extractor fan system which meant the kitchen ovens could not be turned on safely.
Despite engineers working throughout the morning, the fault could not be repaired without a replacement part. This part had to be sourced from Blackburn and couriered 90 miles to the venue. The restaurant eventually became operational again by 6pm, but it was too late for the day's lunchtime bookings.
Families Left Devastated and Scrambling
The closure affected almost 80 separate bookings, believed to be around 300 guests in total. Many families only discovered the cancellation when they arrived at the restaurant, having received no prior phone call.
Among those affected was James Munro, who had a booking for a party of 13 at noon. His sister had travelled from Devon specifically for the occasion. James told BirminghamLive he found out about the closure from a friend whose daughter worked at the venue and had been told not to come in.
"Safe to say the day has been a write-off," James posted on the restaurant's Facebook page. "Perhaps if we had been informed early enough we might have had time to pull some scraps together."
His group, which included three families, was forced to improvise a Christmas meal from items bought at a Little Waitrose in a garage, spending an extra £85 on broccoli, roast potatoes, chicken breasts, and desserts.
Restaurant Apology and Compensation Offer
Management at Miller & Carter Hockley Heath posted a public apology on their Facebook page at 1.20pm on Christmas Day, explaining the "unexpected electrical issue".
A spokeswoman for the chain said the team was "devastated" and had personally tried to contact all 78 affected parties. Guests were offered a full refund for their cancelled meals, which cost £100 per adult and £60 per child. They were also invited to book a complimentary three-course meal with a round of drinks at a later date.
James Munro confirmed he had been offered a free meal but expressed frustration, noting his sister lived in Devon and the gesture did not compensate for the ruined day or the additional costs incurred. He also stated he had not yet received a refund for his £420 booking.
The restaurant emphasised that safety had to come first and thanked most customers for their understanding. The venue reopened as planned on Boxing Day.
