Restaurant owner keeps one in ten sites closed until next year

THE company behind restaurants such as Wagamama and Frankie & Benny’s has said that one in 10 of its sites will not reopen before the end of the year.

The Restaurant Group said that the sites, largely in airports, will open next year at the earliest, as they are unlikely to attract enough customers to make reopening worthwhile.

The affected sites are in areas “where footfall is anticipated to remain considerably week (primarily in some airport locations)”, the company said in an update for shareholders on Friday.

It raises concerns for the jobs of those who work at the sites, as the Government’s furlough scheme, which covers salaries, will end in October.

The Restaurant Group did not immediately provide an answer to what will happen to the staff when contacted asked the PA news agency. All the stores that will reopen this year will have started serving customers by the end of September, the company said.

Meanwhile, 60 per cent of its sites that open before the end of August will be given a chance to take advantage of the Government’s new Eat Out to Help Out scheme, which gives diners up to 50 per cent off their meal Monday to Wednesday.

One in four of the Restaurant Group’s restaurants and pubs will be open by the end of this month.

“The group has now started a phased reopening of its restaurants and pubs for eat-in trade in line with Government guidance,” it told investors. “We are pleased to be able to welcome back our customers and colleagues ensuring that their safety is paramount, whilst maintaining an enjoyable experience.”