Popular UK chain announces shock closure of restaurants

A British restaurant chain has said 16 of its sites will be scrapped, citing ‘disproportionately high’ taxes as the catalyst for its major restructuring plans.

In 2008, Giuseppe Mascoli and Bridget Hugo opened the first Franco Manca in Brixton Market, bringing chewy sourdough pizza to the heart of London.

18 years later, and the business has become a jewel in the UK dining scene, with more than 70 locations serving up delicious, Naples-inspired pies across the country.

However, Franco Manca, which was sold to Toridoll Holdings, the Japanese conglomerate behind Marugame Udon, along with The Real Greek in 2023, is apparently struggling due to external cost pressures.

This week, the pizza chain announced it would cut its losses and shutter over a fifth of its sites, putting 225 jobs at risk.

The Fulham Shore, which operates the business, said the original Brixton restaurant is one of 16 that will close.

Franco Manca has announced 16 of its restaurants are set to close in the UK (Getty Stock Image)

Marcel Khan, chief executive of The Fulham Shore, said that ‘disproportionately high’ UK taxes and a lack of business rates relief rendered it ‘no longer sustainable’ to keep the identified sites going.

“Even restaurant businesses that are doing all the right things from a customer and operational perspective are not immune to widely publicised pressures impacting the hospitality industry,” he continued.

“As a result of these external cost pressures, we have to make sure that we are putting our business on a sustainable footing for long-term growth and development.

“We are deeply saddened by the closures of a minority proportion of our restaurants, and will support our affected team members throughout this process in every way that we can,” the businessman added.

Seven sites outside of London are set to shut up shop; these include resturuants in Bishop’s Stortford, Cheltenham, Didsbury, Glasgow, Hove, Lincoln, and Plymouth.

Meanwhile, nine Franco Manca outposts are at risk of closure, including the establishments on Tottenham Court Road and New Oxford Street.

Battersea, Bromley, and Broadway Market institutions are expected to close at the same time as Brixton, as are those in Chiswick, Kilburn, and Stoke Newington.

The imminent departure of Franco Manca follows BrewDog, the craft beer chain that sacked 484 employees after collapsing into administration.

The UK chain follows in the footsteps of BrewDog and Leon (Getty Stock Image)

The 2007-founded company was purchased by the American firm Tilray Brands for £33 million, with the business opting to keep some bars on and later re-opening others, including the BrewDog Hotel in Manchester City Centre.

Co-founder James Watt was ‘terminated’ as a director following brutal ‘stigma’ comments made by Tilray Brands boss Irwin D. Simon.

He claimed in an interview with The Telegraph that his new venture did not ‘need’ the former ‘captain’ to survive, and that he would happily install drink competitors such as Guinness into the remaining pubs.

Leon, the beloved grab-and-go chain, announced it was entering administration earlier this year, too.

The Mediterranean-inspired outlet closed various sites across the country, including in Shepherd’s Bush, Surrey, and Milton Keynes.

At the time of the announcement, Leon said a route was said to be being set up for staff to apply for jobs at the coffee chain, Pret A Manger.