Restaurant which has changed Stoke-on-Trent's food scene forever shuts suddenly

-Credit:Pete Stonier / Stoke Sentinel
-Credit:Pete Stonier / Stoke Sentinel


Head chef and entrepreneur Cris Cohen has announced the shock closure of a revolutionary dining experience. Chef's Table by FEASTED at Spode Works related the food served to the city of Stoke-on-Trent and its people.

He balanced bringing culinary excellence while working with community groups and education to support cookery skills.

Now Cris has decided to pause the business, taking a step back from Feasted while he pursues consultancy opportunities. At the same time, Cris will be offering ‘dining occasions’ in North Staffordshire.

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Cris said the dining and hospitality sector in the UK was ‘incredibly tough’ with even internationally known chefs and Michelin starred venues finding it hard to continue.

-Credit:Pete Stonier / Stoke Sentinel
-Credit:Pete Stonier / Stoke Sentinel

Feasted at Spode will close immediately with Cris urging anyone who has vouchers to contact him. Voucher holders with valid dates will be offered a place at Cris’ pop-up dining experiences with Cris urging people to look out for future announcements.

“Our customers book through our website but don’t pay in advance, so we’re not in the position of having to make refunds,” explained Cris.

But Cris, who was crowned Entrepreneur of the Year 2024, by the University of Staffordshire, is refusing to draw a line under Feasted.

“I need to pursue other opportunities, and I am fortunate enough to have offers,” he said. “We are going to be offering an occasional dining experience that allows us to flex and change. Keep things fresh. We will announce this in the next few weeks.

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“It is an incredibly hard decision but one that has to be made in the current financial climate. Feasted has been both a labour of love and a unique experiment in what can be achieved if we aim high. It has broken the mould in the Stoke-on-Trent food scene.”

-Credit:Pete Stonier / Stoke Sentinel
-Credit:Pete Stonier / Stoke Sentinel

Feasted combined great food and the city of Stoke-on-Trent with Cris creating unique menus to tell the story of the Potteries. Usually, just 10 diners sat at the Chef’s Table in Spode Works, Stoke.

Cris added: “Diners watched our chefs prepare each dish and were free to ask questions about techniques.”

Cris began Feasted after writing a social media post asking if anyone wanted soup and bread. Just four people replied but it set Cris on a journey, creating high class ‘Feast at Home’ menus, before opening the Chef’s Table in 2022.

The other Feasted venture - Stock by Feasted, on Newcastle-under-Lyme High Street - closed last year.

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