Celebrity chef Adrian Richardson is closing La Luna after 25 years

Hospitality is being hard hit by the cost of living crunch and one iconic place open for 25 years is closing.

A celebrity chef has revealed he is shutting down his restaurant after 25 years of operation, admitting Melbourne was a “tough city” in which to do business.

TV chef Adrian Richardson announced his restaurant La Luna would serve its last meals on August 3.

He said increasing costs had been part of the reason he decided to pull the plug as a lease renewal loomed for his restaurant site.

“Prices have gone up considerably,” he told the Herald Sun.

“My insurance two years ago was $8000, now it’s $15,000. My gas was $6000 – now it’s $12,000. All of these things add up. Staff wages have gone up. I’d happily work 60 hours a week back in the day, no nobody wants to do it. I have to pay top dollar for a good chef … I think it’s fantastic we are doing that.”

TV chef Adrian Richardson announced his restaurant La Luna would serve its last meals on August 3. Picture: Instagram

Despite also running other Victorian restaurants including Geelong steakhouse Maestro, Bouvier Bar in East Brunswick, The Gallery Restaurant at Marvel Stadium and launching a new project called Pasta Bambino, he backed Brisbane as the place for hospitality at the moment.

Mr Richardson has launched two restaurants in the Sunshine State called Boss and Aviary.

“Brisbane is a smaller city, younger and more vibrant,” he added.

“It’s very different up here. Brisbane demands what Sydney and Melbourne has, but they will put money behind it — people will go out to eat and drink.”

However, he urged the struggling hospitality industry not to “b**ch and moan” about the tough situation but instead “be a wolf” and figure out how to make things work.

He added it wasn’t the end for La Luna but he was simply pressing pause.

Mr Richardson said the Brisbane hospitality scene was booming. Picture: Instagram

Hospitality has been hard hit as economic conditions worsen across Australia.

A chilling warning has been issued that one in 13 hospitality businesses across Australia are facing going bust as the industry grapples with the crippling cost of living crisis.

This week another popular Sydney restaurant called Bistrot 916 revealed it is being forced to close – although it hadn’t been hit by financial woes – but was due to an impending “wrecking ball” with its site set to be demolished to make way for a real estate development.

However, other restaurants have closed their doors permanently.

La Luna had been in Melbourne for 25 years. Picture: Instagram

After 18 years in business, Melbourne Asian fusion restaurant Gingerboy shut down in April blaming “market pressures since Covid lockdowns”.

Hospitality business Good Group Australia, which operated a high-end string of steak restaurants and several other Asian venues across three Australian states fell into administration and ceased trading this month owing $23 million.

Its closure resulted in the loss of 200 jobs.

A number of other restaurants have joined the growing pile of closures, including Elements Bar and Grill and three stores in Sydney restaurant franchise Bondi Pizza, as well as Mexican restaurant Checho’s, in Sydney’s outer western suburb of Penrith, which was shuttered in March.