Michel Roux Jr. will close the doors of Le Gavroche for the last time after 56 years | Michel Roux Jr

On Saturday evening Michel Roux Jr will close the doors of Le Gavroche, his two Michelin star in Mayfair, for the last time 56 years after his father and uncle, the Roux brothers, opened it in 1967.

Ru, 63 years old, said he was closing the restaurant – which has helped a host of celebrity chefs launch their careers, including Gordon Ramsay, Marco Pierre White and Marcus Wareing – to try to “find time for a better work-life balance so I can spend more time with my family her and other matters. enterprises”.

Now it has emerged that one of those business ventures is taking its famous restaurant to the high seas – or rather, to the Norwegian fjords. Starting in June, Roux will open “Le Gavroche at sea Residencies” on board Cunard's Queen Anne and Queen Mary 2 luxury liners sailing from the UK to Norway.

It will start with “Gauroche on the Veranda” aboard the Cunard flagship Queen Mary 2 for its voyage to Hardangerfjord, near Bergen, on June 2. The seven-night trip, which costs a minimum of £949 per person, includes breakfast, lunch and dinner, but not meals at the Le Gavroche pop-up. Cunard did not respond to questions about the cost.

Cunard said Roux will “oversee” the residences, and “guests will be treated to a five-course degustation menu filled with all the flavors of the sea, elegantly refined from the very finest ingredients.”

Roux, a former judge on MasterChef: The Professionals, will also appear as a guest speaker, “regaling guests with stories from his illustrious 40-year career in the hospitality industry.”

“It is an absolute privilege to bring Le Gavroche to Cunard's Queens, teaming up with their extremely talented and passionate chefs as we strive to create menus inspired by the treasures of Norwegian cuisine,” Roux said. “Norway's culinary heritage is a tapestry of flavors and together with Cunard I look forward to weaving these elements into an extraordinary dining experience at Sir Samuel's and The Verandah.”

Cathy McAllister, President of Cunard, said: “Just as Michelle sets the bar for fine dining, at Cunard we set the bar for luxury ocean travel, and its innovative approach to celebrating traditional Norwegian cuisine is perfectly aligned with our commitment to offering guests unforgettable and rich cultural experiences “.

Le Gavroche, which translates as The Hedgehog, opened in Sloane Square in 1967, long before London was known for its sophisticated culinary scene. The restaurant was founded by pioneering brothers Albert Roux, father of the current owner, and Michel Roux Sr., who were among the first restaurateurs to bring classic French cuisine to the capital.

It was one of the first restaurants in the UK to be awarded a Michelin star, in 1974, then in 1977 he became one of four to win a second time. In 1982 it was also the first restaurant in the UK to be awarded three stars after moving to its current location on Upper Brook Street in Mayfair.