Millstone Lane branch of Bistro Pierre is one of six to shut for good

THE Leicester branch of French restaurant chain Bistrot Pierre will permanently close.

The chain, which began in Nottingham 26 years ago, has been bought in a pre-pack administration – but six UK sites will close for good.

This includes the Leicester site, in Millstone Lane, which opened in November 2003 and was extensively revamped in 2017.

Other restaurants to close include Bath, Cardiff, Harrogate, Middlesbrough and Sheffield, leading to 123 redundancies.

A total of 19 Bistrot Pierre restaurants have been acquired by a new firm named after the year the business was founded, Bistrot Pierre 1994, reported to be backed by the brand’s chairman, John Derkach, and chief executive Nick White.

The deal saves 681 of Bistrot Pierre’s 803 employees and 674 of them are now returning from furlough.

Will Wright and Steve Absolom, from

KPMG UK’s restructuring practice, were this week appointed joint administrators of Le Bistrot Pierre Limited and immediately after their appointment, the pair concluded a sale of the business and some assets to connected party Bistrot Pierre 1994 Limited.

The deal preserves jobs at 19 Bistrot Pierre restaurants.

Mr Absolom said: “Covid-19 and the prolonged lockdown period has presented large swathes of the casual dining sector with significant funding challenges and Bistrot Pierre has been far from immune.

“Despite exploring all alternative options, including relief schemes like the Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan, the directors took the difficult decision to file for the appointment of administrators.

“We are pleased to have been able to conclude a transaction which preserves the majority of the business and associated jobs, ensuring the chain’s 25-year presence on high streets can continue.”