A restaurant and bar specialising in Pan-Asian food is set to be replaced by Istanbul BBQ, as questions remain over the sudden closure of the Chester venue.

Matthew James Veryard founded Six One Six Restaurant & Bar in June 2023, taking over the Pepper Street site previously occupied by bar and restaurant chain Boujee.

Boujee closed its doors permanently in January 2023. In an email to staff, the chain said the decision followed a lengthy "uphill battle", during which the business faced "numerous constant hurdles".

Six One Six, described as a Latin-Asian bar and restaurant, featured a menu specialising in Pan-Asian food, sushi and seafood. The venue also offered tequila, cocktails, bottomless brunches, DJs and group dining experiences.

However, the business now appears to have closed with little explanation. Its social media accounts have been left inactive, while its website is no longer available.

The venue's Facebook page was last updated in June, while its Instagram account has also been closed.

The closure comes just months after Six One Six refreshed its menu for the summer and promoted a series of events, including World Cup-related activities and DJ nights.

It has now emerged that the Pepper Street venue is set to become Istanbul BBQ, a Turkish restaurant which already has a Chester branch on Brook Street.

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Istanbul BBQ describes itself as offering authentic Turkish cuisine cooked over a large charcoal barbecue.

The restaurant says its owners, Ali and Mark, source fresh ingredients from trusted Chester-based and regional suppliers. Its menu features authentic Turkish dishes which are prepared and cooked in front of customers by the restaurant's team.

Six One Six CEO and founder Matthew James Veryard previously described himself as "an aspiring entrepreneur on a focused mission" in an interview with Cheshire Magazine in 2025.

He also said he had a "deep desire and determination" to achieve his "clear vision within the hospitality sector".