Two restaurants are shut as owner goes into administration
PREDICTED HOSPITALISATION RATES
THE Leicester branch of French restaurant chain Café Rouge is now permanently closed, along with the Loughborough branch of Bella Italia.
They are among 91 UK restaurants, out of a total of 250 owned by the Casual Dining Group, which have shut for good.
The Casual Dining Group – which also owns Las Iguanas – entered administration last week, saying it was in the best interests of all stakeholders to enter administration to allow the company to conclude negotiations with landlords over its estate.
The closures will affect 1,909 employees.
The list of restaurants that have permanently closed includes 34 Bella Italia, three Belgo, 31 Café Rouge, and 11 Las Iguanas.
It also includes 12 airport cafes and bars, six of which are at Heathrow.
Speaking last week, James Spragg, chief executive of Casual
Dining Group, said: “After reviewing all our options with advisers, it became clear we needed to take this action in order to protect the business and secure the best possible future for Casual Dining Group as we look to conclude a potential sale.
“We are acutely aware of our duty to all employees. Working alongside the administrators we will do everything we can to support them through this process with a view to preserving as much employment as we are able to.”
Joint administrator Clare Kennedy, of Alix Partners, said: “We appreciate this is an extremely difficult time for all those associated with Casual Dining Group.
“Our immediate priorities are to assist those whose employment has been affected by today’s announcement and to secure a sale for the group in order to protect jobs and provide the group’s much-loved brands with a sustainable platform.”
STATISTICS: Risk of hospitalisation by clinical commissioning group. Below, risk by county