The restaurant was opened by Franco Taruschio in the 1960s, who owned The Walnut Tree for more than 30 years.

[3] The Walnut Tree began to have financial troubles, and so the Mattiolis sought the guidance of celebrity chef Gordon Ramsay, appearing on the television series Ramsay's Kitchen Nightmares in 2004.

Ramsay criticised the overpricing at the restaurant and helped them to hire a new head chef.

[4] The Walnut Tree closed in 2007, after going into receivership due to "involuntary insolvency",[5] and the Mattiolis blamed Ramsay's show for making the restaurant seem too expensive.

[6] The restaurant was reopened in early 2008 as a joint partnership between hotel-owner William Griffiths and new head chef Shaun Hill.