The Vurger Co has announced it is to cease trading, resulting in the closure of its three restaurants in Brighton, Manchester, and London’s Shoreditch.

The business was rescued from administration in May 2023, with co-founder Rachel Hugh saying at the time that “the future looks positive” despite “a painful few years of trading.” FRP Corporate Finance confirmed in January 2023 that it was supporting the business to identify suitable investment opportunities to drive further growth.

In a post on LinkedIn yesterday (21 February), Hugh said the vegan fast food concept, which she founded in 2016 with Neil Potts, will close its doors “for the last time.”

The business “was flying” until the pandemic struck in March 2020, she said, having opened two restaurants in less than a year, with the third scheduled to open in Brighton in 2020.

Hugh further described the “perfect storm” for hospitality businesses over the past two years, owing to soaring coats, plunging sales, and decline in both customer and investor confidence.

She blamed the “punishing” VAT and business rates systems, along with the lack of support in government policy for the hospitality industry.

Hugh also detailed misinformation around veganism and simplistic coverage of plant-based diets as ‘unhealthy and overly processed’ further hampering customer confidence, adding that “veganism is not dying – far from it.”

She called on consumers to support their favourite vegan businesses and for investors to support the sector, while urging the government to lower VAT and reform the business rates system.

Hugh wrote: “The burger is familiar, comforting, affordable and just incredibly tasty to all people everywhere, that’s why we just loved The Vurger Co menu so so much. We battled, naturally as any owner does, with the thought of changing the concept to ‘fit with the times’, and we actually pitched to our Investors last November a whole re-brand and new concept for each store. However we just all ended up feeling like if the framework around us (Costs, Government Support, Rates, VAT, Investor appetite) in the UK isn’t there anymore, combined with the above issues stated, we would just be waiting and waiting and waiting for change that simply won’t happen to the highest level that it needs to. That is the reality of operating right now as a small vegan restaurant brand.”