The future of Mark Hix’s restaurant empire is in doubt after the Dorset chef reportedly appointed administrators across three of his businesses late last week.

According to The Telegraph, Hix’s parent organisation WSH & Mark Hix Restaurants; Restaurants etc; and Hix Townhouse have all filed.

Hix’s businesses are the latest restaurant casualties of the Coronavirus crisis, which last week saw Italian casual dining brand Carluccio’s also forced to call in the administrators.

Meanwhile, The Restaurant Group filed a notice of its intention to appoint administrators to its Mexican chain Chiquito late last month; and burger chain Byron has reportedly hired advisers to consider its options.

Hix grew up in West Bay and attended Weymouth College. In 2014 he launched an academy for aspiring chefs at the college is now an ambassador for catering training at the site.

He currently owns several sites across London, including HIX Oyster & Chop House in Farringdon in 2008; chicken and steak restaurants Tramshed; and Hixter Bankside.

He also has two restaurants in Lyme Regis: HIX Oyster and Fish House, and HIX Townhouse.

Last year the chef-restaurateur closed his HIX Soho restaurant after 10 years, with Hix citing “rising rents and difficult market conditions” as the reasons behind the closure.

At the time he said: “We’ve enjoyed a very good run in Soho, but sadly due to rising rents and difficult market conditions we aren’t able to find a way to carry on, a growing problem for restaurateurs across London.”