Handmade Burger Co restaurants across the UK have closed after the chain collapsed into administration for a second time, putting more than 280 people out of work.
David Griffiths, Conrad Beighton and Paul Masters of Leonard Curtis Business Rescue & Recovery were appointed joint administrators of The Burger Chain Limited earlier today.
The administrators said: "Unfortunately, despite considerable efforts to secure a sale of the Company’s business, this has not been possible, and all 19 restaurants have today closed with the loss of 283 jobs".
The restaurants which have closed with immediate effect are in Aberdeen, Edinburgh Ocean Terminal, Glasgow Braehead, Glasgow St Vincent Street, Birmingham Brindleyplace, Birmingham Bullring, Leicester Highcross, Lincoln Brayford Wharf, Peterborough, Solihull Touchwood, Gateshead Metrocentre, Hull, Leeds Trinity, Sheffield Meadowhall, Bath, Bournemouth, Reading, Southampton West Quay and Wembley.
Joint administrator David Griffiths said: “The casual dining market in the UK has experienced significant challenges over the last four years, largely as a result of overcapacity in the sector, which has resulted in a significant number of insolvencies.
“Sales at Handmade Burger Co. restaurants have almost halved during this period, which has proved to be unsustainable.
“It is disappointing that circumstances have meant that a sale of the business has not been possible in this case, but our focus now should be on those employees affected by this difficult news.
“We will work hard to provide them with all necessary assistance to claim for monies which remain due to them.”
The administration is being undertaken by the Birmingham office of Leonard Curtis Business Rescue & Recovery.
Handmade Burger Company was founded by Chris Sargeant and his two brothers who opened their first restaurant in Birmingham in 2006.
Burger Chain had filed notice of its intention to appoint an administrator for the 19-strong chain during the festive period.
In October it appointed CBRE to assess its options for the brand, including a possible sale of the business, but no successful bids came forward.
Last week property company Berry was appointed to market the business, which was acquired out of administration by Burger Chain in 2017.
Handmade Burger Co had operated 29 sites before the first administration, but nine of those sites closed under the insolvency process in 2017.
The casual dining sector has been under pressure recently, as has the rest of the high street. Last year PA and the Centre for Retail Research estimated that more than 11,000 UK restaurant workers lost their jobs last year.
