A MAJOR burger chain is permanently closing the doors on another outlet today, following in the wake of a wave of closures by the fast food outlet.
Byron Burger is shutting its restaurant in George Street, Oxford at the close of business today.
GettyThe Oxford branch of Byron Burgers is closing its doors for good today[/caption]
Diners have reacted to the news on social media saying: “Another one bites the dust…
“Sad to see it going and sorry for all the people loosing their jobs.”
A second local wrote: “Ahhhh my fave burger restaurant.”
Another wrote: “Shame… Myself and my autistic son had several good meals there…”
And a fourth commented: “Oxford city centre is a disgrace it’s embarrassing to walk through to be honest.”
Byron announced the immediate closure of nine branches in January, following the collapse of the business.
The move left more than 200 employees out of a job.
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.
An exact date is yet to be given but the Chantry Place shopping centre confirmed the closure.
The Sun Online has contacted Byron about the closure of the Oxford branch.
At its height of popularity in 2018, the burger chain had 67 restaurants running.
It was founded in 2007 and Byron first collapsed back in 2020 in the midst of the pandemic.
It hired administrators in the summer of 2020 before being sold to Calveton, a private investment firm.
But only 21 of Byron’s 51 branches stayed open – leading to 600 jobs being axed.
After it collapsed into administration again earlier this year, the following nine sites shut for good:
BluewaterChelmsfordEdinburgh Lothian RoadLeedsLondon – WembleyManchesterMilton KeynesSalisburySouthampton
As of September 2023, the chain operates out of just 11 locations, but after the Norwich and Oxford branches close, it will bring this total to just nine.
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.
Plans will see its entire leisure estate reduce from 116 sites to between 75 to 85.
First announcing the closures back in March TRG reported widening losses last year and said some of its restaurant chains had been directly impacted by the cost of living crisis.
In September, TRG completed a deal to sell both Frankie & Bennys and Chiquito to Cafe Rouge owner The Big Table group.
Meanwhile, a major pizza chain is set to close one of its locations for good and apologised to customers.
Plus, a family favourite restaurant chain has delayed its plans to open new restaurants following two closures.
AlamyByron Burgers is closing another branch today (file photo)[/caption]