1,900 jobs to be slashed at Cafe Rouge and Bella Italia with 91 restaurants to shut

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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