800 branded outlets close

More than 800 branded restaurants, bars and coffee shops have closed since the start of the coronavirus pandemic, research compiled for the Evening Standard has found.

Data compiled for the newspaper showed that when administrations and Company Voluntary Arrangements are included, chains with 6,231 outlets have been affected.

That compares with 593 closed during the two previous years, which included the one-off corporate shakeups at Patisserie Valerie and The Restaurant Group accounting for nearly 150 closures.

Many more independent and family-run sites have closed during the period.

Many private equity investors in the sector have been wiped out by the pandemic, including entrepreneurial management teams with stakes in their businesses.

Casual dining chains have been particularly badly hit, including 91 in the former Casual dining Group (now The Big Table), 75 from Azzurri Group and 73 from Pizza Express.