A Cheltenham restaurant has issued a formal apology after it mistakenly posted an AI-generated claim that a nearby rival had closed down. The Nook on Five took down the erroneous post and expressed an unreserved apology after falsely stating that Lumiere, a well-known local eatery, had shut its doors.
Lumiere’s owners have firmly denied the rumor, confirming the restaurant remains “very much alive and kicking.”
In a Facebook statement, The Nook’s representative acknowledged the mistake: “We recently made a serious error in a published piece of content. We owe someone an apology. A recent blog post incorrectly stated that Lumiere—one of Cheltenham’s leading independent restaurants—had closed. This information was entirely false.”
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They explained the error stemmed from an AI-generated draft that was not thoroughly reviewed prior to publication. “That is entirely on us. We are reviewing our processes to ensure it does not happen again,” the statement added.
The message continued: “We apologise unreservedly. To Helen, Jon, and the entire team at Lumiere—we are truly sorry for any harm this caused. If you’re visiting Cheltenham, Lumiere is one of the finest independent restaurants in the area. Please go and experience it for yourself.”
Lumiere, a Michelin Star and AA Rosette awarded establishment, has been a fixture since 2009. Speaking to the BBC, co-owner Helen Howe emphasized, “We’ve been here 17 years, and we’re very much alive and kicking.”
This incident highlights the growing pains of using generative AI tools. While AI can boost efficiency and reduce costs, concerns remain around its environmental impact, potential job losses, and the accuracy of its content. Such mistaken claims, sometimes called “AI hallucinations,” illustrate how AI can confidently produce false information—in this case, prematurely reporting the closure of a thriving restaurant.