🔥 Trending Nic Watt Restaurants Face Liquidation: What Went Wrong?

Celebrity chef Nic Watt has recently faced significant challenges with his restaurant businesses in Auckland, New Zealand, leading to the closure and liquidation of multiple establishments. Most notably, his upmarket modern Chinese restaurant, Cāntīng, ceased operations in late June 2026, marking his third restaurant liquidation ²⁴.

Cāntīng's Closure and Liquidation

Cāntīng, located in Auckland's Commercial Bay precinct, entered voluntary liquidation on June 29, 2026 ⁶⁹. The restaurant, which opened in late November 2024, operated for less than two years ³. Nineteen staff members were informed of the closure at an 11 am meeting on the day of liquidation ⁶⁹. Watt expressed his devastation regarding the closure ⁴⁵.

A Pattern of Closures

The closure of Cāntīng is not an isolated incident for Nic Watt. It represents the third restaurant business he has liquidated ²⁴⁸.

Previous Liquidations:

• True Food and Yoga (2018): This eatery went into liquidation owing more than $2.4 million to creditors and shareholders ⁷.
• Inca (2023): Watt's Newmarket restaurant, Inca, closed its doors after just three years in business, with reported debts of $1.1 million. Staff members at the time expressed anger over unpaid wages ⁷.

Nic Watt's Statement

Following the closure of Cāntīng, Nic Watt broke his silence, stating that "A bad night looked like 10 people" ¹. He has been quoted as saying that "silence is dignified" regarding his restaurant collapses ¹.

Current Operations

Despite the recent liquidations, Nic Watt still operates Masu by Nic Watt, a Japanese robata restaurant and bar located in Auckland's Federal dining precinct ¹⁰. Masu is known for its traditional robata cooking style and is described as combining atmosphere, passion, and a modern twist ¹⁰.