Jamie Oliver to close six restaurants in ‘tough market’ following Brexit vote
Jamie Oliver is to close six of his Italian restaurants after tough trading and the “pressures and unknowns” following the Brexit vote.
As every restaurant owner knows, this is a tough market and post-Brexit the pressures and unknowns have made it even harder
Oliver intends to close Jamie’s Italian restaurants in Aberdeen, Exeter, Cheltenham, Richmond, Tunbridge Wells and Ludgate Hill, near London’s St Paul’s Cathedral, by the end of the first quarter of the year.
“As every restaurant owner knows, this is a tough market and post-Brexit the pressures and unknowns have made it even harder,” said Simon Blagden, chief executive of the Jamie Oliver Restaurant Group.
The closures will affect about 120 employees, less than 5 per cent of the restaurant chain’s total staff, and the company aims to offer them alternative jobs at other Jamie’s Italian outlets.
“These closures are in no way a reflection on the dedication and commitment of our staff and my first priority is to try and secure those affected alternative jobs,” said Blagden. “Where this isn’t possible, we’ll be working with them to find alternative employment.”
Blagden said a combination of high costs on ingredients, staff training and lower footfall had forced the restaurant closures.
“Because we refuse to compromise on the quality and provenance of our ingredients and our commitment to training and developing our staff, we need restaurants that can serve an average of 3,000 covers every week to be sustainable,” he added.
