A FAST food chain known for serving the "best burgers" is shutting a busy branch in the next few days.
Patty & Bun is pulling down the shutters on its popular Soho branch this week.
The restaurant located in Old Compton Street, London, will be closing its doors for the last time on Saturday, October 28 it confirmed on social media.
Staff said the decision to leave was "out of our control" and directed hungry diners to the next closest site in Kingly Street.
Posting on Facebook it said: "Yo Patty crew this will sadly be our last trading week at our beloved P&B Old Compton St.
"Over 7 years old now, it’s a true patty little vibe den.
READ MORE IN MONEY
CLOSING TIME
Major burger chain to shut another site after string of closures
TUCK IN
Fast food chain serving 'best burgers' and rival to Five Guys saved from closure
"Unfortunately it wasn’t our choice to leave, and was out of our control, but the show must go on…"
The post was met with comments from disappointed fans.
One said: "Truly a sad day. Lots of happy meals in here, you’ll be missed.
"But look forward to new memories at Kingly Street."
Most read in Money
GOING UP
Pay rise for nearly half a million workers from TODAY – will you get one?
FESTIVE JOY
Huge discount chain with over 800 branches to close all stores on Boxing Day
BILL SAVE
Cheap gadget you’d never think of can slash energy bills by £300 a year
CHOC LOT
Cheapest shops to buy Xmas chocolates including Quality Street & Celebrations
Another wrote: "Oh no! First P&B ever in this one, had birthdays, anniversaries, Xmas celebrations, you name it in there.
"Always been great food and good times 100% of the time. Much love."
A third commented: "Such a shame. Keep going strong and will be back to another venue soon."
And a fourth said: "That’s a shame. This was always the spot for me."
The Sun has contacted Patty & Bun for comment and will update this story when we hear back.
The post also made clear that all other sites remain open.
It comes after Patty & Bun agreed a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) with insolvency specialists Valentine & Co in a bid to sort out its finances last month.
The burger chain owes its creditors – anyone that a business might owe money to – more than £1.7million.
A CVA doesn't mean that a company has gone bust.
Instead, it allows firms that have run out of cash to look at ways to save the business, such as reducing rent rates with landlords.
Companies often agree a CVA to avoid insolvency, which can lead to closures or the whole business going bust.
But Patty & Bun's agreement means that its sites can continue to trade as normal.
Earlier this year the chain closed its branch in Notting Hill.
It has currently has nine branches, with eight in London and one in Brighton.
Once the Old Compton Street branch closes it will bring its total down to eight, as well as two pop-up sites.
Patty & Bun opened its first branch in James Street, London in November 2012 and has been said to make the "best burgers" by fans.
It's the latest burger chain to announce a closure in recent weeks.
Byron Burger is closing its restaurant in George Street, Oxford at the end of the month according to staff.
The site will be pulling down the shutters for the final time on October 29.
Byron collapsed back in January and announced the immediate closure of nine sites.
The business was sold to Tristar Foods and 12 restaurants were transferred to the new company, saving 365 jobs.
However, Byron's new owners closed its Ipswitch branch on July 21, bringing the total number of restaurants down to 11.
The chain also plans to bring the shutters down on another site in Norwich.
The hospitality sector as a whole has been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation.
Some well-known retailers have shut a handful of branches, while others have disappeared from the high street for good.
Italian dining chain Prezzo revealed plans to shut 46 restaurants back in April as a result of soaring energy and food costs, putting 810 jobs at risk.
TRG, which owned Frankie & Benny's, Chiquito and Wagamama, revealed that it would shut down around 40 sites by April 2024.
But it's not all bad news as Honest Burger is looking to open a new chain of cut-price fast food restaurants.
The chain is looking to rival Five Guys and Shake Shack, according to The Times, with the first branch set to open in central London early next year.
Meanwhile, Five Guys is planning to open 140 new burger restaurants in the UK.
Read More on The Sun
TRAGIC END
Mystery as orca Moana dies suddenly in captivity at French theme park
NOT THE ENDER
EastEnders legend drops big hint she’s signed up for I’m A Celeb jungle
Plus, a family favourite restaurant chain has delayed its plans to open new restaurants following two closures.
Do you have a money problem that needs sorting? Get in touch by emailing [email protected].
You can also join our new Sun Money Facebook group to share stories and tips and engage with the consumer team and other group members.
Source: Read Full Article