To The Woolf & Social Family, Guests and Neighbours

It is with a strange mixture of emotions that we are announcing the upcoming closure of Woolf & Social. After 8 years on Nelson Street, we will close the doors at the end of 2023.
 
It’s been an extremely hard decision to make as we know how much this place means to our friends, family, guests and the Nelson neighbourhood.

This is a decision we have taken, thankfully not through necessity but through choice. We want to end this beautiful chapter on a high. We are still profitable, despite the numerous challenges our industry has faced and continues to fight. We still fill the place with laughter and delight on a Friday and Saturday night. We still produce amazing food from the best ingredients we can get. But as costs increase, we are finding it harder to keep our prices within reach of everyone, which is the whole concept of the restaurant.

The main reason for this decision however is more personal. Francis has been working as a chef for a very long time, sacrificing evenings and weekends, putting in long hours and nurturing the restaurant with every spare moment. He is now at a stage where he wants to spend more time with his family and focus on other projects. Without the Woolf there is no Woolf & Social.

We expect to be very busy until the end of the year, and will be taking bookings up until Christmas eve. Bookings will therefore be taken on the hour to relieve some pressure on the kitchen during busy periods.

We have had such a great 8 years here, we have achieved so much, not just the awards and reviews but the work we have done in the community and beyond. We will always be extremely proud of Woolf & Social.

Francis is not hanging up the apron for good, expect more from him and from Woolf & Social in other forms… watch this space.

This is not the end for 21-23 Nelson street either, something new will be gracing the scene although we are yet to decide exactly what that will be.

Huge thanks goes out to all our staff past and present, especially Benedict Hemmens who has steered the ship the last few years. Also to Will Theobald who has worked with us in the kitchen for many years. There are too many people to mention by name but we owe you all our debt of gratitude.

Thanks also to our suppliers Charlie Hanison, Dozen, Derek at Lea & Sandeman, Cheese Truckle, Easters, Harveys, Howards, Substrata and Strangers and The Green Grocers.

Thank you to all our customers, when we first opened we were a bit of a punt, being so different to what was available in Norwich at the time, but the support from our outset was unbelievable. We have seen some regulars here every year since 2015, sometimes every month, sometimes every week! The touching messages of support over lockdown kept us fighting, and the cook along parties were loads of fun.

We have seen weddings, proposals, birthdays, Christmas parties, family reunions, bar mitzvahs, wakes, knitting groups and Baby showers. We feel extremely honoured to have been part of so many people's important events.

As we look forward to the next few months, we are obviously extremely sad, but we are also excited to see what’s next.

Let's go out on a high!


Francis Woolf & Felix Rehberg

You will find us at;

Woolf & Social

21-23 Nelson Street

Norwich

Norfolk

NR2 4DW

SAMPLE MENU

Opening Hours;

Tuesday - Friday 6-11pm

Saturday 12-3pm, 6-12am

Sunday 12-3pm