TGI Fridays owners collapse into administration: full list of UK restaurants affected
TGI Friday’s UK owners have gone into administration, casting uncertainty over the fate of 87 branches and roughly 4,500 jobs.
The brand which owns TGI Fridays, Hostmore, confirmed it had brought in the administrators and has not yet secured a buyer for the American restaurant chain.
According to the TGI Fridays website, the brand employs about 4,500 people in the UK, but the number of staff members affected is unknown.
A Hostmore spokesperson said: “The board is immensely proud of all Hostmore colleagues, both in store and in the support centre, who worked tirelessly to execute a turnaround programme over the past 18 months and to deliver a successful result on the proposed acquisition of TGI Fridays, Inc.
They added that they’d inherited a “challenging set of circumstances” as they sought ways to reduce costs.
“Unfortunately, all of the board’s efforts to implement a lasting solution to support the long-term financial future of the business came against a highly challenging trading and macroeconomic backdrop, and efforts to create value for shareholders through the proposed acquisition of TGI Fridays, while well-advanced, encountered adverse events outside of the board’s control."
TGI Fridays is known for its bistro-style American food such as burgers, ribs, and loaded nachos.
After massive success in the US after being founded in New York in 1965, the brand opened its first UK outlet in Birmingham in 1986. It spread nationwide with famous stores in spots including London’s Covent Garden.
However, Hostmore has reported challenges since at least last year. Share prices have since plummeted, jeopardising the brand’s future.
With Hostmore now looking at administration, it’s uncertain whether another buyer will be found for some or all of TGI Friday’s UK chains. Restaurant stores will remain open for the time being.
TGI Fridays restaurants in the UK at risk
Aberdeen Beach
Aberdeen Union Square
Ashton-under-Lyne
Barnsley
Basildon
Birmingham
Birmingham NEC
Bluewater
Bolton
Bournemouth
Bracknell
Braehead
Braintree
Brighton Marina
Cabot Circus
Cardiff Newport Road
Cardiff St David's
Castleford
Cheadle
Chelmsford
Cheltenham
Cheshire Oaks
Coventry
Crawley
Cribbs Causeway
Croydon
Derby
Doncaster
Durham
Edinburgh
Enfield
Fareham
Fort Kinnaird
Gateshead
Glasgow Buchanan Street
Glasgow Fort
Gloucester Quays
Halifax
High Wycombe
Jersey
Lakeside Quay
Lakeside Retail Park
Leeds Junction 27
Leeds Wellington Bridge Street
Leeds White Rose
Leicester
Lincoln
Liverpool One
Liverpool Speke
London Leicester Square
London Stratford City
London the O2
Manchester Royal Exchange
Meadowhall
Metro Centre Gateshead
Milton Keynes
Milton Keynes Stadium
Newcastle Eldon Square
Newport Friars Walk
Northampton
Norwich
Nottingham
Prestwich
Reading
Romford
Rushden Lakes
Sale
Sheffield
Silverburn
Solihull
Southampton Retail Park
Staines
Stevenage
Teesside
Telford
Trafford Centre
Trinity Leeds
Walsall
Watford Central
Watford North
Wembley
West Quay