Wahaca's restaurant in Bristol will be one of 10 across the country closing its doors for good, as the Mexican chain struggles with the impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The chain's founders confirmed in an email to staff that they closing more than a third of its sites in the UK in an effort to try and save jobs.
They said rent at its city centre locations had "already increased dramatically," which coupled with the uncertainty of post-lockdown trading would make the sites "untenable".
The group, which was founded by former Masterchef winner Thomasina Miers and Mark Selby, will close the Bristol branch in Queens Road as well as sites in London, Liverpool and Manchester.
These closures, the group said, will help protect the future of its remaining 18 sites and avoid putting the entire business at risk.
Wahaca is considering a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) restructuring deal in order to facilitate its cost-saving plan.
In an email sent to staff titled "the hardest email I have ever had to send," the company's founders outlined the challenges facing the firm.
"The last time I spoke to many of you about what the future looked like was in February 2020 when we had just launched our new values with huge energy and excitement, growth in our restaurants was back to amazing levels," it begins.
"Then Covid hit and our worlds were turned completely upside down.
"We have done everything we can to protect our cash position whilst also doing everything in our power to protect our teams and all of our suppliers.
"That said, we are not immune from what Covid has thrown at the world, in particular at the hospitality industry, and the cash we had for lining up new sites and growth has now gone."
The full list Wahaca restaurants across the country which will permanently shut are:
- Bluewater, Kent
- Bristol
- Brixton, London
- Charlotte Street, London
- Chichester
- Kentish Town, London
- Liverpool
- Manchester
- Southampton
- St Paul's, London
