Latest news with #closure
The Sun
3 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
BBC Masterchef star closes award-winning restaurant TODAY after ‘unforgettable journey' as he teases ‘final celebration'
AN AWARD-winning restaurant owned by a BBC Masterchef star is closing today after an "unforgettable journey". Announcing the news online, chef Ritchie Staisnby teased a "final celebration" before he closes the doors to the much-loved vegan food spot. 6 6 6 Owners of the restaurant made the decision to shut up shop after admitting "everything is up in the air". Co-owner of Nottingham-based No. Twelve, Ritchie Stainsby built up a strong relationship with his regular customers after starring on Masterchef: The Professionals last year. He runs the restaurant alongside wife Lauren and despite the popular spot being filled up most days, Ritchie has called time on the project. The final farewell will take place on 1 June and is open to all members of the public. Tickets are free and the restaurant will be serving heavily discounted booze and food, and will even auction off some of its items. In a post on Instagram the couple said: "This is more than just a party — it's a thank you, a farewell, and a celebration of everything has stood for. "Whether you've dined with us once or a hundred times, we'd love to see your face and raise one last glass together. No dress code — just bring your friends, your appetite, and your best stories. Let's make this a day to remember." News of the closure was announced earlier this year with the TV chef alluding to things being "up in the air" despite being as busy as ever. They said: "We got some sensitive news that's out of our hands. "We have loved doing this and the reason it's coming to an end so abruptly is some personal circumstances for us and those around us that contribute to the restaurant closing. "No. Twelve hasn't failed, to be honest we are busier than we ever have been. "And because we're a couple we guarantee people will think we've split up. Just to clarify we are a happily married couple." He ended the passionate message by saying: "Everything is up in the air at the moment and, even though we don't know what's going to happen, I'm still going to be a chef." The 33-year-old is yet to say what led to the closure of No. Twelve but he did confirm the brand would live on in the form of regular pop-up events. Private dining bookings will also still be available for guests who want to get their tastebuds back with Ritchie's tasty offerings. No. Twelve can be found at Eldon Chambers in a busy part of Nottingham. It was first opened up in 2017 as a small 24-seater cafe in Hounds Gate being the business was transformed into a fine dining restaurant in a converted redbrick Victorian mill, off Wheeler Gate. They specialise in vegan dishes with an imaginative twist that has wowed everyone - including devout meat lovers. Much of the meals form an à la carte menu but there is also a seven-course tasting menu for people to try. 6 6 6 Until today the spot was running as usual to provide diners with a culinary experience they won't forget. Lauren, 29, previously said: "What we want to do over the next three months is celebrate. "One door closes, another door opens. We're going to see it as something positive. "It is sad but we don't want to be sad about it because there is no point. It's been a great journey for us. "I started this when I was 22, now I'm going to be celebrating my 30th here. It's amazing, we've done so well." Ritchie said despite the pair choosing to step away from the business sector for now, they could be convinced back one day. He said if the right investor came in and made an offer which was good enough then they would go into business again. The chef said: "Whilst a change of location seems impossible at the moment, it's not something we'd ever rule out. "The economy, as it is, is tragic for our industry. While there are places opening we often find it's people who have got big backing." It comes after Sunday Brunch star Elliot Kaye and Richie Hayes shared that they would be closing their modern-style greasy spoon. The North London eatery Norman's Cafe had long been a hub for influencers and fashion-forward people looking for a greasy spoon with a difference. Opened by Sunday Brunch chef Elliot Kaye and Richie Hayes, the posh restaurant first opened its doors in 2020. Norman's Cafe began as a sandwich shop before widening its menu to include a range of British classics. Despite its immense popularity, however, the shop's owners announced that it will close its doors in June 2025. What is happening to the hospitality industry? By Laura McGuire, consumer reporter MANY Food and drink chains have been struggling in recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out. Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation. Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny's closing branches. Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs. Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon. Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans.
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Will Rockview and Quehanna close? Decision still ‘pending,' Shapiro admin says
After previously announcing that a decision on whether to close Rockview state prison and Quehanna Boot Camp would come in May, Gov. Josh Shapiro's administration said Friday that the final decision is still 'pending.' The state Department of Corrections said it is 'continuing to consider feedback from stakeholders and review is ongoing.' The agency did not provide an updated timeline for its decision. The DOC said in press release issued at the beginning of the month that it expected to make its decision public by the end of May. The delay will prolong a period of anxiety and frustration for hundreds of employees and their families, many of whom could be relocated to other state prisons and have their carefully coordinated schedules upended. Kalli Boone, the wife of a corrections officer who works at Rockview, told the Centre Daily Times 'we have been lied to since the beginning.' 'They said they're going to be transparent about this. They haven't been,' Boone said. 'They lied to us about the facts and why it's being done. They don't even have the decency or common courtesy of informing us of anything. It is very stressful on all the families involved.' Centre County leaders have warned of 'potential disaster' if Shapiro's administration follows through with its proposal. The county commissioners estimated the central Pennsylvania economy stands to lose $118 million annually. But the delay also figures to give a bipartisan group of state lawmakers opposed to the closures more time to make their case to the state's chief executive. Shapiro's administration has pitched its proposal as a way to save about $120 million in the face of shrinking state prison populations, high vacancy and turnover rates among corrections officers and massive overtime payments. Rockview is the second-oldest among the nearly two dozen in the DOC system and the agency has said it would require $74 million in upgrades over the next five years — the highest cost of any state prison. All affected employees will be guaranteed a job offer at their existing pay and classification at a facility within 67 miles of Rockview, though the DOC has made no promises about shift assignments. Workers may also face longer commutes. The Pennsylvania Prison Society has been generally supportive of the proposal, saying it could save money and keep Pennsylvanians safe if done properly. The nonprofit has said Rockview is in serious disrepair. The proposal has been deeply unpopular in Centre County, where state lawmakers, the county's commissioners and the union that represents corrections officers were among those who repeatedly urged the state to reconsider over the past 3 1/2 months.
The Sun
7 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Popular coffee shop suddenly closes permanently after four years as heartbroken fans say ‘you'll be missed'
A POPULAR coffee shop has unexpectedly shut its doors for the last time leaving fans heartbroken. An artisan coffee bar in South Queensferry, Scotland has announced its closure after only four years. Brew Culture in the town's high street decided not to renew their lease and will be closing down for good. The coffee shop shared a post on Instagram thanking their loyal customers. The post read: "Our shop lease expires in a few months and we've decided not to renew the lease. "We've had a great time brewing our lovely coffee for you and will miss you all. Thank you for your support." Fans flocked to the shop's social media to express their sadness over the news. One person wrote: "A really sad day. Thank you for all the lovely coffee and chats over the years. Another one added: "Sorry to hear this. You'll be missed on our wee high street. All the Best for the future and thanks for all the decent chat and awesome coffee!" Someone else wrote: "So sad to hear this we went down this morning and found shop closed. Thinking of u all. U treated us really good. "Loved the coffee and husband liked the Biscoff pastry. Good luck to u all for the future. Will miss u." Poundland to be sold for JUST £1 as frontrunner for shock takeover is revealed after wave of store closures Most customers have been left gutted at the closure news with many saying they will miss the lovely conversations with the owners. Brew Culture celebrated its fourth anniversary in March and had raving reviews on Google with 4.7 star rating. It comes after a legendary greasy spoon in London announced its closure after five years. The North London eatery Norman's Cafe has long been a hub for influencers and fashion-forward people looking for a greasy spoon with a difference. Opened by Sunday Brunch chef Elliot Kaye and Richie Hayes, the posh restaurant first opened its doors in 2020. Norman's Cafe began as a sandwich shop before widening its menu to include a range of British classics. Despite its immense popularity, however, the shop's owners announced that it will close its doors in June 2025. The shop's closure comes as luxury eateries have been forced to close across the UK. Soaring rent prices have led many to shut their doors, with some blaming the Government's decision to raise national insurance contributions for employers. However, Chancellor Rachel Reeves has said that her decision was necessary to stabilise the economy - which unexpectedly grew in April. Others, like La Goccia in Covent Garden, blamed 'Covid' and 'Brexit' for making it difficult to hire trained staff.
The Sun
11 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
Department store chain shutting last shop TODAY after 140 years as it's wiped off high street due to Budget tax hikes
AN ICONIC department store has been forced to shut its last branch after 140 years of trading due to Rachel Reeves' Budget hikes. Beales has confirmed its last ever shop, located in the Dolphin Centre shopping mall in Poole, Dorset, will be closing for good today. 2 It marks the end of an era for the one of the oldest faces of the British high street, which first opened in Bournemouth in 1881. Struggles began for the retailer when it entered administration in January 2020, forcing the closure of 22 of its 23 shops. The shop in Poole reopened the same year after relocating to the shopping centre and remained the only Beales store standing. Despite weathering the financial storm for the past five years, Reeves' economic policies proved to be the final nail in the coffin for the iconic departmental store. Beales hit back at the Chancellor's economic policies by announcing a " Rachel Reeves ' Closing Down Sale". On social media, the popular chain joked that it had fallen victim to the Budget "black hole". The closure will also affect an NHS clinic, which is located on the top floor of the Poole store. It was set up in 2021 to reduce waiting times, but will now move to St Mary's hospital on June 5. The death of the high street is the death of communities Beales chief executive Tony Brown explained that business had become "unviable" following the Chancellor's Budget last October. He said: "This, coupled with the risks and uncertainty of further tax increases in the coming years, have left us no other option. "We have been working with the Dolphin Centre, who have been supportive, along with our investors to ensure an orderly exit. "Our team has been informed, as have our suppliers. We will ensure the exit is managed and no one will be left with a financial loss." Below the advert for the " Rachel Reeves Closing Down Sale", which included discounts of up to 80%, the high street favourite launched a scathing attack on the Chancellor. A caption on the store's Facebook page read: "Our closing sale is almost over (cheers for the help, Chancellor) - and we've just dropped hundreds of lines to 80% OFF or more! "Grab a bargain before we vanish into the budget black hole. #FinalSale #80Off #LastChance #WhenItsGoneItsGone." UK Retail Shake-Up: Superdry and More It has struggled to cope with rises in national insurance contributions and higher minimum wage which came into effect last month. Like many other businesses, Beales faced higher employer NI contributions, which have risen from 13.8% to 15%. Additionally, the threshold at which these contributions must be paid has been lowered from £9,100 to £5,000. It came as the national minimum wage was notably increased, rising to £12.21 per hour. For workers aged 18-20, the minimum wage increased to £10 per hour from £8.60. These changes to the tax system were confirmed by the Chancellor in the Autumn Budget last October and came into effect on 1 April. The British Independent Retailers Association (Bira) warned this closure could be the first of many as retailers continue to struggle with mounting costs. Commercial director Jeff Moody said he was "deeply saddened" to hear about Beales shutting up shop. Why are retailers closing stores? RETAILERS have been feeling the squeeze since the pandemic, while shoppers are cutting back on spending due to the soaring cost of living crisis. High energy costs and a move to shopping online after the pandemic are also taking a toll, and many high street shops have struggled to keep going. However, additional costs have added further pain to an already struggling sector. The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs from April will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. At the same time, the minimum wage will rise to £12.21 an hour from April, and the minimum wage for people aged 18-20 will rise to £10 an hour, an increase of £1.40. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." It comes after almost 170,000 retail workers lost their jobs in 2024. End-of-year figures compiled by the Centre for Retail Research showed the number of job losses spiked amid the collapse of major chains such as Homebase and Ted Baker. It said its latest analysis showed that a total of 169,395 retail jobs were lost in the 2024 calendar year to date. This was up 49,990 – an increase of 41.9% – compared with 2023. It is the highest annual reading since more than 200,000 jobs were lost in 2020 in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, which forced retailers to shut their stores during lockdowns. The centre said 38 major retailers went into administration in 2024, including household names such as Lloyds Pharmacy, Homebase, The Body Shop, Carpetright and Ted Baker. Around a third of all retail job losses in 2024, 33% or 55,914 in total, resulted from administrations. Experts have said small high street shops could face a particularly challenging 2025 because of Budget tax and wage changes. Professor Bamfield has warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020." He added: 'This is not just the loss of another shop. "It represents the end of a retail institution that has served communities for nearly one-and-a-half centuries. 'This closure starkly illustrates the devastating impact that recent tax increases are having on our retail sector.' At its peak, Beales operated 41 stores across the country, selling a range of furniture, cosmetics, fashion products and toys. The high street chain shut its store in Southport last September just three years after the site reopened. FAMOUS NAMES GONE FROM THE HIGH STREET Beales is not the only brand that's been wiped from the high street in recent years. Ted Baker, fell into administration last March after years of turmoil. At the time it had 46 shops in the UK employing around 975 people. The last stores shut in August after failing to secure a full rescue. It was relaunched as an online brand in the UK and Europe after a partnership with United Legwear & Apparel Co. Flooring retailer Carpetright filed for administration in July after efforts to turnaround the struggling firm were derailed by a cyber attack. The business had 1,800 staff and 273 shops across the country before going bust. Around 54 stores were snapped up by its arch rival Tapi Carpets & Floors, which also bought its brand name and continues to run the brand online. LloydsPharmacy, once the UK's second biggest community pharmacy chain, went into liquidation in late January 2024 with debts of £293million. The previous year it had closed all of its pharmacies inside Sainsbury's and divided its 1,000 pharmacy estate into packages of hundreds of stores that it then sold to rivals in smaller deals. There are no more LloydsPharmacy-branded sites on the high street, but it continues to operate online.
The Sun
11 hours ago
- Business
- The Sun
WHSmith shutting beloved branch TODAY as brand to disappear off high street forever
WHSMITH is shutting a beloved branch today ahead of the brand disappearing off the high street forever. 1 It had been a long-standing part of Doncaster's high street, having opened when the Frenchgate was first built in 1968. Locals have branded the move as a "disgrace" as they prepare for the loss of the store. One upset shopper said: "There will be no point in visiting the Frenchgate soon." While another customer said: "So sad I've just walked past WHSmith and it's ceases trading today that's going to leave a big hole in the Frenchgate centre." And a third added: "Town might as well shut down hardly anywhere open so sad." post office which also operated within the store has also closed. It comes after WHSmith agreed to sell 500 shops in a £76million deal. Retail investor Modella Capital snapped up the portfolio, with the stores eventually set to rebranded as TGJones. Around 5,000 people are employed across the high street shops. WHSmith has over 580 travel stores across airports, hospitals, railway stations and motorway service areas which will continue to live on. Sainsbury's scraps in-store changing rooms leaving shoppers furious Last January, the stationer said it wanted to open 15 new shops in airports, railway stations and hospitals before the end of 2024. The brand has already shuttered up to eight stores popular high street locations, including Halstead in Essex, and Woolwich in London. A branch in Bedford, Bedfordshire will close on July 5. As for Doncaster locals, it will not be the first time they had to wave goodbye to a popular brand. Ann Summers in Doncaster city centre closed back in December and M&S will close a branch in Baxtergate will close this summer. TROUBLE ON THE HIGH STREET It comes amid a tricky period for the retail sector, with consumers having less cash in their wallet to spend at the tills. Hikes to National Insurance contributions, imposed in April, have also added to business costs. Poundland will close three stores across Filton Abbeywood, London and the Isle of Wight in the coming weeks. The brand has already shut up to 11 stores, and up to 200 could close as part of its rescue deal. Bidding for the business started last week. A source told The Sunday Times that Poundland would be priced at "effectively a pound". Gordon Brothers, the ex-owner of Laura Ashley, and Homebase owner Hilco are reported to be in a two way race to win the chain. A decision on who the preferred bidder is could be announced in the coming days. Polish retail giant Pepco said it expects the sale of Poundland to complete by September. Pepco previously said it was looking at"all strategic options" to separate Poundland from its brand. The Polish group said it might turn its focus to its more profitable businesses in Europe. New Look began ramping up its store closure programme prior top April's National Insurance hike. Approximately a quarter of the retailer's 364 stores are at risk when their leases expire. This equates to about 91 stores, with a significant impact on it's 8,000 strong workforce. The company has restructured its store estate twice in the past six years, reducing its portfolio from around 600 UK stores in 2018. RETAIL PAIN IN 2025 The British Retail Consortium has predicted that the Treasury's hike to employer NICs will cost the retail sector £2.3billion. Research by the British Chambers of Commerce shows that more than half of companies plan to raise prices by early April. A survey of more than 4,800 firms found that 55% expect prices to increase in the next three months, up from 39% in a similar poll conducted in the latter half of 2024. Three-quarters of companies cited the cost of employing people as their primary financial pressure. The Centre for Retail Research (CRR) has also warned that around 17,350 retail sites are expected to shut down this year. It comes on the back of a tough 2024 when 13,000 shops closed their doors for good, already a 28% increase on the previous year. Professor Joshua Bamfield, director of the CRR said: "The results for 2024 show that although the outcomes for store closures overall were not as poor as in either 2020 or 2022, they are still disconcerting, with worse set to come in 2025." Professor Bamfield has also warned of a bleak outlook for 2025, predicting that as many as 202,000 jobs could be lost in the sector. "By increasing both the costs of running stores and the costs on each consumer's household it is highly likely that we will see retail job losses eclipse the height of the pandemic in 2020."
