We paid TGI Fridays in Leeds a visit to see why the business is struggling

'Fridays Glazed Smash Burger' and fries came to £19.95
-Credit: (Image: Samuel Port)


If you’re passionate about interior design and American-style diners, you may be bowled over by the vast array of booths surrounding the grand quadrilateral bar in the centre of the TGI Fridays restaurant in Leeds.

You’d gaze upon the dark red cushioned seats, the mahogany tables, art-deco lighting fixtures and the gleaming brass metal rods encircling the bar, complemented by fluorescent pink lighting in the ceiling and huge flatscreen TVs with live sports dotted across the vicinity.

You may notice how clean and crisp the dining hall is - untouched, unsullied, as if encapsulated in a pristine snow globe. I certainly noticed all of this when we arrived at lunchtime and were guided towards a smaller area by the front of the chain restaurant, where guests were being served as it was practically empty, save for a handful of customers.

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TGI Fridays has gone into administration, putting 4,500 jobs and 87 outlets at risk. Parent company Hostmore announced the news earlier this month, blaming the ‘highly challenging trading and macroeconomic backdrop’.

While I prepared to head their venue, on Wellington Bridge Street, just off Kirkstall Road. I looked online and couldn’t find any prices on the menu. However, there were lots of promotions on offer which looked encouraging.

TGI Fridays in Wellington Bridge Street, Leeds
TGI Fridays in Wellington Bridge Street, Leeds -Credit:Samuel Port

There was a whole host of offers, a torrent of them, in fact, which come with downloading the app and interacting with their rewards system. There were too many to choose from. It came across as an almost desperate plea for business, akin to Dominos' gargantuan list of offers.

Serendipitously, we’d booked to see a film at the cinema the same day and that came with a 20 percent discount. However, this wasn’t allowed in conjunction of the ‘free dessert’ which only one of your party could order, per restaurant bill, on a first-time visit using the app...an offer which appears good on the surface but fairly stringent in practice.

There was also a two-for-one cocktails deal – which sounds alluring at first until you see that each cocktail is listed at £18. This struck me as completely disingenuous with the cocktails almost double the price you’d spend at most bars or restaurants.

The food prices are no different, it was alarmingly expensive, for what was on offer and the type of venue it was. It’s marketed as a casual dining chain with an American-style theme where you wouldn’t expect such a high mark-up. (I was grateful I qualified for the 20 percent off cinema discount.)

The empty dining area at TGI Fridays in Wellington Bridge Street, Leeds
The empty dining area at TGI Fridays in Wellington Bridge Street, Leeds -Credit:Samuel Port

I’d fancied the steak before heading out there but with it coming at a £28.95 price mark, it was too high for what my budget would allow. I’d expect to pay around this price at a specialist steak restaurant but not a casual dining chain.

Our sharer plate of Nachos, with fake chicken - I was dining with a vegetarian - starters, came to £16.25. Although it tasted nice enough, the serving really wasn’t that all that generous. It was suitably spicy with guacamole to temper the flavour, and while the plant-based chicken wasn’t all that convincing, it served as a fulfilling accompaniment to the dish.

Sharer nachos with fake chicken cost £16.25 at TGI Fridays
Sharer nachos with fake chicken cost £16.25 at TGI Fridays -Credit:Samuel Port

The service took an exceedingly long amount of time. We’d been waiting for more than half an hour on the starters. So asked them to bring our main dishes out in haste so that we wouldn’t miss our film time.

My 'Fridays Glazed Smash Burger' and fries came to £19.95. It was a good quality burger, perfectly ‘smashed’ with a thin and crispy texture, while retaining the moisture of the meat. Nicely complemented by pickles, their ‘legendary glaze’ sauce and the seasoned fries.

'Fridays Glazed Smash Burger' and fries came to £19.95
'Fridays Glazed Smash Burger' and fries came to £19.95 -Credit:Samuel Port

The vegan burger, again at £19.95, I was told had a good texture, tasting similar to meat with an array of salad toppings, enhancing the dish. You'd expect the food to be of decent quality at these prices.

TGI Fridays I recall being an event location, where you’d go out with friends or family, all giddy with excitement to have a fun evening. Now as inflation rises, however, I feel like these special occasions, people are more selective with their time (and money). Diners prefer to splash out on specialist restaurants that have more authenticity than a catch-all chain.

The vegan burger came to £19.95 at TGI Fridays
The vegan burger came to £19.95 at TGI Fridays -Credit:Samuel Port

The bill

  • Sharer nachos with plant-based chicken - £16.25

  • Fridays Glazed Smash Burger - £19.95

  • Vegan Burger - £19.95

  • Total (including 20 per cent reduction) - £44.92

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