Restaurants in London closed at the lowest rate for nearly a decade in the previous year to mid-2009, according to the latest publication of the Harden's London Restaurants guide.

A total of 64 restaurants and eateries across the capital closed during the 12-month period, which decreased by seven compared with the previous year and is the lowest number of closures since 2000. Peter Harden, co-publisher of the guide, said: "There would seem to be no single explanation of why, during a period of such economic upheaval, the low rate of restaurant closures has so confounded the pessimists.

One of the more important reasons may be that most restaurant-going Londoners are still in employment, and many of them have had their disposable income boosted by lower mortgage payments. Another is that active promotion by restaurants is no longer seen as embarrassing, and they have more sophisticated promotional instruments at their disposal." According to the guide, 121 restaurants opened in London over the past year, while the average price of eating out in the capital is now £40.73.