The TGI Fridays restaurant in Doncaster has been spared closure as part of a rescue deal for the struggling chain, but more than 1,000 jobs have been lost across the UK.
The American-themed restaurant chain has been acquired by Breal Capital and Calveton in a deal that saves 51 sites, including the Doncaster Lakeside outlet.
However, 35 restaurants were not included in the sale and have closed immediately, resulting in 1,012 redundancies nationwide1.Julie McEwan, chief executive of TGI Fridays UK, commented on the situation: “The news today marks the start of a positive future for our business following a very challenging period for the casual dining sector as a whole. We are devastated for our colleagues who will be leaving TGIs and thank them for their loyalty and contribution during their time with us”
Impact on Doncaster
The survival of the Doncaster restaurant means that local jobs have been saved, providing some relief for the area’s hospitality sector. The Doncaster Lakeside outlet is among the 51 sites that will continue to operate under the new ownership.
Nationwide Closures
While Doncaster’s TGI Fridays has been spared, the situation is dire for many other locations across the UK.
Trade union Unite reported that staff at some closed restaurants were locked out of their workplaces, with padlocks on doors changed. Some employees were given short notice for video calls with head office, while others were left uncertain about whether they would be paid.
McEwan addressed the impact on affected staff, stating: “We are doing everything possible to retain our team and support those impacted.”The rescue deal comes after TGI Fridays’ parent company, Hostmore, filed for administration last month due to debt problems.
The new owners, Breal Capital and Calveton, also have stakes in other restaurant chains, including D&D London.As the dust settles on this major restructuring, the Doncaster TGI Fridays stands as one of the fortunate survivors in a challenging period for the UK’s casual dining sector.
