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Harvester Shuts Bristol Branch as UK Chains Struggle With Inflation

Energy bills compounded by food inflation have forced casual dining brands to withdraw from underperforming venues

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Overview

  • Harvester’s Bristol restaurant at Bradley Stoke’s Willow Brook Centre closed on June 8 as the chain said the site will make way for “something new and exciting,” with future plans still unconfirmed.
  • Cosy Club ended nine years of trading at Ipswich’s Buttermarket Shopping Centre on May 31 after its managing director concluded the location was no longer financially viable.
  • Chick ’n’ Sours has closed its Haggerston and Seven Dials sites in London this month after co-founder David Wolanski said operating the restaurants just isn’t viable as rising costs squeeze margins.
  • High-street names including Wetherspoons, Frankie & Benny’s, Byron Burger and Papa Johns have cut back on branches in response to surging living costs and reduced consumer spending on dining out.
  • Analysts warn that ongoing inflation and steep energy bills could prompt further branch closures as operators reassess underperforming outlets