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Restaurateur responds to ‘untruths’ following Daily Noodles closure
A chef and restaurant owner has broken his silence to refute “untruths posted online”.
It comes after Daily Noodles in Wapping Wharf closed its doors blaming “ongoing cost pressure” due to the “forced closure” of its sister site.
As well as their restaurant in Wapping Wharf, there was until recently a Daily Noodles in St Nick’s Market which the team at Daily Noodles claim they were locked out of by ex-director Larkin Cen.
In October, the Daily Noodles team started a crowdfunder in an attempt to raise money to move to new premises, with the Cen-owned XO now occupying their former corner unit in the Glass Arcade.
Daily Noodles on Gaol Ferry Steps was previously owned by Cen, who also owned Woky Ko whose sites included the closed restaurant in Wapping Wharf and what is now XO in St Nick’s.
Daily Noodles in Wapping Wharf was previously the site of Woky Ko and opened just weeks after the closure of three Woky Ko sites – photo: Martin Booth
In a statement to Bristol24/7, Cen said he resigned as a director of Daily Noodles in October 2024 and has no legal relationship with the new company now trading under that name.
Cen, who trained as a lawyer and is a well-known face from his appearances on MasterChef and Great British Menu, added that he is the longstanding licence holder of the stall at St Nick’s Market.
He refutes claims made by the Daily Noodles team of “an administrative error” and has blamed his former business partners for the collapse of Daily Noodles.
Daily Noodles opened in Wapping Wharf in 2023, replacing what had previously been a Woky Ko – photo: Bristol24/7
A post on Daily Noodles’ Instagram page on Saturday said: “We are very sad to announce that, due to ongoing cost pressure caused by the forced closure of our St Nick’s Market stall, Daily Noodles has now ceased trading…
“We would like to thank all our fantastic customers for their support over the years.
“It really meant the world to us and we will truly miss you all.”
A subsequent post on Sunday alleged that Cen “forced the closure of our St Nick’s stall”; a claim which Cen says is false.
Daily Noodles’ owners allege this was because “the unit had been put in his (Cen’s) name when he was a director of the business because the license could not be held by a company”.
The social media post claims Cen “could have signed it over to us, but instead he preferred to lock us out and replace it with his new XO business and cause the closure of our company”.
Larkin Cen’s name was previously literally attached to Daily Noodles – photo: Martin Booth
In his statement to Bristol24/7 on Monday, Cen said: “There have been a lot of untruths posted online which I have kept my silence on.
“I am aware that staff have lost their jobs and that this is an incredibly difficult time, and so I am not interested in throwing mud in response.
“What I will say is this: I resigned as a director of the trading company of Daily Noodles in October 2024.
“I understand that there is now a new limited company also trading under Daily Noodles.
“I have no legal relationship with this new trading company and have never been involved in its formation.
“I have been a longstanding licence holder at St Nick’s Market well before the formation of Daily Noodles.
“This was never an administrative error, as claimed. I also hold all the liabilities that come with the licence.”
Larkin Cen pictured in 2019 at Woky Ko’s robata stall in St Nick’s Market which became Daily Noodles and is now XO – photo: Bristol24/7
Cen added: “Much has been said in the media about my ‘lack of cooperation’ regarding the possible transfer of my licence to Daily Noodles.
“The truth is that since the day I resigned as director, and even before then, I have never received a single point of communication from Daily Noodles, or my ex business partner/investor, regarding the transfer of the licence from my name to theirs.
“According to what has been reported in the media they had sought transfer of my licence to them and the process was ‘simple with my cooperation’ which begs the question as to why they never sought any input from me.
“Not a single email, phone call, letter, request for a meeting – nothing. It is the equivalent of someone trying to transfer ownership of your house from you without your knowledge.
“My position is that any consequences have unfortunately been as a direct result of their actions.
“I will not be making any further comment on the matter.”
Main photo: Visit Bristol
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