Burgers off the menu
Gourmet joint closes down
The Handmade Burger Co. has closed – just nine months after opening as part of the new East Kilbride Shopping Centre leisure hub.
Restaurants across the United Kingdom shut their doors after the company plunged into administration with the East Kilbride branch among the first nine to be axed immediately.
Over 160 staff have been made redundant so far, however, administrators Leonard Curtis Recovery did not reveal the number of staff cut locally.
The collapse of the chain will be a blow to shopping centre bosses which welcomed the restaurant in November as part of The Hub expansion.
Joint-administrator Julien Irving was optimistic that the chain could be saved – with 20 stores still operating as normal.
“We are monitoring trade closely and looking to get a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) in place which we consider to be the best outcome for all parties,” he said.
“If the proposal has the support of the creditors, then a CVA may allow the business to continue.
“We are working hard to seek approval from the companies’ creditors to secure this. If, however, this is not possible, then as joint-administrators we will seek a buyer for the business.”
A spokesman for EK, East Kilbride stated that their sympathies were with the staff hit by the closure.
“We understand that a partnership company behind Handmade Burger Co. has gone into administration resulting in the closure of a significant number of restaurants across the UK including the outlet in EK, East Kilbride,” he said.
“Our principal concern at this point is for the restaurant’s employees and we will be looking to support them where we can with details of other vacancies within EK, East Kilbride.”