The recently opened fine-dining venue The Duchy Ascot has been listed as permanently closed online, casting fresh uncertainty over the future of a prominent site on the A332 between Ascot and Windsor.
Closure follows months of activity and positive reviews
Located in Winkfield on Windsor Road, the restaurant replaced the former Loch Fyne by Greene King, which closed in May 2023. The Duchy opened towards the end of November last year and offered a menu prepared by professional chefs alongside live music. Its short spell trading attracted positive notices on social platforms; a TripAdvisor reviewer praised a “delicious and generously portioned Sunday lunch” and others commended the food and music.
Online presence disappears as planning application remains live
Its last social-media update was posted on 29 May, the restaurant's Instagram account appears to have been removed and Google currently shows the listing as permanently closed. Ownership of the property is understood to lie with the Project Cornwall Group, a UK-based luxury hospitality and leisure company; however, the group’s website does not provide contact details.
The restaurant site is also the subject of an active planning application submitted to Bracknell Forest Council in December that proposes demolition of the existing building to create three new homes. The scheme would consist of one three-bedroom and two four-bedroom dwellings, each with gardens and three parking spaces.
| Proposal | Details |
|---|---|
| New homes | 1 × 3-bed, 2 × 4-bed |
| Parking | 3 spaces per dwelling |
| Application lodged | December (application still under consultation) |
Local objections and road-safety concerns
Winkfield Parish Council recommended refusal of the redevelopment scheme. Concerns have also been raised by local councillors about the location of the building close to a bend on Windsor Road.
“Last time I passed, it was actually closed. Really and truly, it's such a dangerous bend, that restaurant is on quite a tight left-hand bend.”
The quotation above was made by Councillor Colin Dudley (Conservative, Forest Park), who expressed safety concerns about the site and lamented the potential loss of what he described as a “lovely restaurant and pub”.
- Current status: Restaurant marked permanently closed online; social accounts inactive.
- Planning: Application to replace building with three homes submitted to Bracknell Forest Council in December and remains under consultation.
- Ownership: Project Cornwall Group listed as owner; no contact details available on its website.
For local residents and road users, the outcome of the planning consultation will determine whether the site returns to hospitality use or is redeveloped for housing. Anyone wishing to comment on the application should consult the Bracknell Forest Council planning portal for the latest documents and consultation deadlines.
InfoRadar will continue to monitor the planning process and seek further information from the site owners and council as it becomes available.
