Tragus, the casual dining group, has pruned a clutch of underperforming restaurants from Ortega, its fledgling tapas chain.
The group, which is led by Graham Turner, has sold the Southend restaurant to a local operator
It has also asked agents to market one of its London Ortega outlets, near Smithfield Market.
A Northampton unit has been converted back to a Bella Italia and it surrendered the lease of its Harlow outlet some time ago as part of a redevelopment of the surrounding leisure park.
Assuming the successful disposal of Smithfield, the Ortega format will comprise three outlets - at London’s Leadenhall Market, Milton Keynes and Center Parcs in Longleat, Wiltshire.
Turner, who also chairs Liberation Group - the Jersey-based pub and brewing business - said the group had put Ortega’s development on hold and would review this when market conditions were more favourable.
Turner, chief executive, said: “We have some sites that are working very well [under the Ortega format] but it just feels like now is the time to be concentrating on the basics, which means putting all our resources into Cafe Rouge, Bella Italia and Strada - not pushing out a new brand.”
He said Tragus would look to open about 15 sites in the current financial year - to May 2010 - all under its core brands.
