Virat Kohli distances himself earlier as Bengaluru’s One8 Commune shuts down

The One8 Commune restaurant in Bengaluru, that was previously co-owned by cricket star Virat Kohli, has ceased operations. The development comes after Kohli had severed ties with the outlet which has been in controversy in recent times.

Kohli had already withdrawn his brand name from the restaurant which is located near the Chinnaswamy Stadium. Now, as financial and legal issues continue to pile up, the restaurant, which was started in 2023, has shut down.

Why One8 Commune shut down?

Earlier, it was reported that the restaurant shut down following a court order due to non-payment of rent. An India Today report stated that the dues had risen over Rs 2 crore, with payment being defaulted for the past half-a-year.

The report claims that the restaurant, operated by Trio Hills Hospitality, also had pending maintenance charges and revenue share payments. According to India Today, the owner of the building that housed the restaurant moved the city civil court regarding the matter. The court then told Trio Hills Hospitality to cease operations in the premises until all dues are cleared.

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Now, the company has issued a statement, saying that the restaurant was shut due to regulatory and compliance-related requirements pertaining to the building and not because of unpaid dues or financial default.

"The outlet was shut due to regulatory and compliance-related requirements pertaining to the building. Any reference suggesting unpaid dues or a financial default from our end is incorrect," the statement read.

The business was reportedly suffering even before Kohli announced his departure from the project. The restaurant was in controversy before, with reports of regulatory violations. It had reportedly received multiple notices from the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike for such violations.

The outlet was also accused of operating without taking all the mandatory clearances, including from the fire department. A case was also filed against the outlet under the Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act for failing to provide a designated smoking zone on the premises. The restaurant was also in legal trouble for operating beyond legal hours.

The pub and restaurant were opened in December 2023 and attracted a lot of attention thanks to its association with Kohli, but over the past couple of years, it came under the spotlight for all the wrong reasons and eventually shut down.