ALMOST 2,000 jobs will be lost as Bella Italia and Cafe Rouge bosses announced the closure of 91 of their restaurants.
More than 1,900 jobs are set to be cut as owner, Casual Dining Group said it would shutter almost 100 sites after calling in administrators.
Administrators were called in in May after the groups 250 restaurants – which includes Las Iguanas – had been closed for months due to the coronavirus pandemic, and the majority of their staff furloughed.
The board said that entering administration was in the best interest of stakeholders during the "extreme operating environment" it is having to trade through.
It is looking for a new owner, but said that the administration would allow it to end negotiations with landlords, a "critical step" before finding a buyer.
Chief executive James Spragg said: "After reviewing all our options with advisers, it became clear that 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 and recognise that this is an incredibly difficult time for them. 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."
Administrator Clare Kennedy, from Alix Partners, said: ""We appreciate that 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 for the future."
FULL LIST OF SITES CLOSING
Bella Italia
Newbury
East Kilbride
Baker Street
Cambridge
Cheltenham Prom
Soton Above Bar
Blackpool Church
Watford
Plymouth
Dunfermline
Islington
Gloucester Quays
Hatfield
Southend
Didsbury
Solihull
Brighton Belotta
Windsor
Manchester Deansgate
Camberley Atrium
Aberdeen
Loughborough
Crewe
Colliers Wood
Brighton Marina
Cardiff
Shaftesbury Ave
Hemel Hempstead
Leeds
Silverlink
Bexley
New Brighton
Orpington
Manchester Piccadilly
Café Rouge
Bury St Edmonds
Newbury
Maidstone Earl St
Solihull
Pinner
Blackheath
Harborne Birmingh
Leamington Spa
York
Dulwich
Epsom
Birmingham Mailbox
Woking
Hitchin
Oxford
Leicester
Chester
Cheltenham
Loughton
Chelmsford
Cambridge
Edinburgh
Southgate
Esher
Bromley
Salisbury
Canterbury Long
Trafford Centre
Exeter Princesshay
Hertford
Milton Keynes
Las Iguanas
Harrogate
Brighton Marina
Derby
Sheffield
Woking
Chester
Brunswick Square
Braintree
Bournemouth
Norwich
Newcastle
Belgo
Belgo Kingsway
Belgo Nottingham
Belgo Centraal
Airport sites
Café Rouge Rapide Inverness Airport
Bristol Airport
The George Ale & Coffee House (T5)
The Darwin Ale & Coffee House (T3)
Jersey Airport
Oriel Luton
Oriel Heathrow T4
La Salle Heathrow T2
Bella Italia Luton
Oriel Heathrow T3
Huxleus Heathrow T5
The Shipyard Jersey
More to follow…
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