Jobs are saved as buyer found for restaurant

Staff and customers delighted as eaterie reopens

Fifteen jobs have been saved at Peterborough’s Handmade Burger Company after a buyer was found for the troubled restaurant chain.

Staff have endured an uncertain couple of weeks after the national business entered administration and nine of its 29 UK restaurants were immediately closed.

After a failure to secure an agreement with creditors, administrators Leonard Curtis managed to reach a deal with what is thought to be a private equity firm to buy the Handmade Burger Company business.

The sale agreement was signed late on Tuesday afternoon and means that 530 jobs nationally have been saved.

Manager of the restaurant in Peterborough’s Westgate Acrade, Oliwia Kubik said that staff and customers were delighted at the news.

She said 15 people worked in full and part-time roles at the Peterborough restaurant and all had been retained.

She said: “Everyone is thrilled and it’s great the business is back on track. All our staff are still here.”

The restaurant closed early on Tuesday while the buyer agreed the deal with the administrators.

Joint Administrator Julien Irving said: “Since our appointment on July 6 we have worked hard to secure the most favourable outcome for all creditors.

“Despite being unable to propose a Company Voluntary Arrangement, we have since managed to secure a buyer for the business and are delighted that this positive outcome has been achieved.”

The sale has secured 530 jobs at 20 restaurants.

However, a spokeswoman for the administrators said the buyer had asked not to be identified.

The sign in the window, but the restaurant reopened the next day.