1,900 jobs axed at Café Rouge and Bella Italia

The Casual Dining Group, owner of the popular Café Rogue and Bella Italia chains, is to close 91 restaurants and make 1,900 of its staff redundant.

Café Rouge is the latest casual dining venue to fall victim to the coronavirus curse

As reported by Eater, the Covid-19 pandemic has forced the Casual Dining Group to call time on 91 of its 250 restaurants in a bid to secure a sale.

A total of 43 Café Rouge sites and 34 Bella Italia venues have closed, alongside 11 sites of Latin American restaurant chain Las Iguanas and three venues of Belgian restaurant, Belgo, which is also owned by the group.

According to Eater London, the remaining 159 restaurants in the Casual Dining Group will stay open as the company seeks a buyer for the struggling business.

Restaurants, bars and pubs are due to reopen on 4 July in the UK, but social distancing restrictions make it hard for may venues to trade, particularly those reliant on a high volume of diners.

With the on-trade one of the sectors hardest hit by the lockdown measures, all areas of the industry, from casual dining chains to multi Michelin-starred venues have suffered.

Among the recent restaurant closures in London are Nathan Outlaw’s Siren at The Goring, Adam Handling’s The Frog Hoxton, Agnar Sverrisson’s Texture in Marylebone, Asma Khan’s Darjeeling Express in Soho, Richard Caring’s Le Caprice in St James’s and The Greenhouse in Mayfair.

Leave your reply

Most Recent Stories

Unfiltered: James Snowdon

The Edinburgh native and former manager of Fulham’s Harwood Arms co-founded the ultra-popular Edinburgh brasserie with Australian-born Lloyd Morse, previously of Spring. He talks to Douglas Blyde about storing wines and stealing naps in the vault of this former bank, mind-blowing coffee, and “floating about on a cloud of charisma”…

Three in four Brits will head to the pub for the Coronation

Record numbers of pints are predicted to be sold over the Coronation weekend taking place on 6-8 May, with 75% of Brits planning to celebrate the crowning of the new King by heading to the pub.

'Britain's wonkiest pub' is looking for a new owner

If you're a long time admirer of both the Leaning Tower of Pisa and beer, an exciting opportunity has just arisen to bag yourself a lopsided slice of history.

WLC Eats: Caia, Notting Hill

Louis Thomas finds creative twists on crowd-pleasing dishes and a reliable by-the-glass offering at Caia in Notting Hill.

Lanson pairs Noble with Hide tasting menu

With the help of its chef ambassador Ollie Dabbous, Lanson is expanding the on-trade listings for its prestige line Noble 2004, made in Brut and Blanc de Blancs styles, in a series of gastronomic dinners for Champagne enthusiasts.

Most Recent Stories

Unfiltered: James Snowdon

The Edinburgh native and former manager of Fulham’s Harwood Arms co-founded the ultra-popular Edinburgh brasserie with Australian-born Lloyd Morse, previously of Spring. He talks to Douglas Blyde about storing wines and stealing naps in the vault of this former bank, mind-blowing coffee, and “floating about on a cloud of charisma”…

Three in four Brits will head to the pub for the Coronation

Record numbers of pints are predicted to be sold over the Coronation weekend taking place on 6-8 May, with 75% of Brits planning to celebrate the crowning of the new King by heading to the pub.

'Britain's wonkiest pub' is looking for a new owner

If you're a long time admirer of both the Leaning Tower of Pisa and beer, an exciting opportunity has just arisen to bag yourself a lopsided slice of history.

WLC Eats: Caia, Notting Hill

Louis Thomas finds creative twists on crowd-pleasing dishes and a reliable by-the-glass offering at Caia in Notting Hill.

Lanson pairs Noble with Hide tasting menu

With the help of its chef ambassador Ollie Dabbous, Lanson is expanding the on-trade listings for its prestige line Noble 2004, made in Brut and Blanc de Blancs styles, in a series of gastronomic dinners for Champagne enthusiasts.