Casual dining chain TGI Fridays has confirmed the permanent closure of 16 restaurants across the United Kingdom, resulting in the loss of 456 jobs. The move comes after the company entered administration, despite securing a rescue deal.
Pre-Pack Deal Fails to Save All Sites
Administrators from Interpath revealed that the closures proceeded even though the business agreed to a pre-pack administration deal with Sugarloaf, the entity behind the chain's global brand. This type of deal typically allows a company to be sold almost immediately after entering administration, often preserving the core business. However, in this case, not all locations were deemed viable for the future.
The administration process, confirmed on Wednesday 14 January 2026, has led to a significant reduction in the chain's UK footprint. While 16 venues will shut their doors for good, the administrators confirmed that 33 restaurants will remain open, safeguarding 1,384 positions. The chain, which recently underwent a rebranding from TGI Fridays to simply 'Fridays', continues to operate these remaining sites.
Full List of Closing Locations
The following TGI Fridays restaurants have been closed permanently as a direct result of the administration:
- Ashton Under Lyne, Greater Manchester
- Doncaster, South Yorkshire
- Staines, Surrey
- Stevenage, Hertfordshire
- Walsall, West Midlands
- Bournemouth, Dorset
- Telford, Shropshire
- Reading, Berkshire
- Coventry, Warwickshire
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Crawley, West Sussex
- Aberdeen Beach, Scotland
- Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
- Sheffield, South Yorkshire
- Stratford, Greater London
- Braintree, Essex
Impact on the UK Casual Dining Sector
The closures mark another challenging chapter for the UK's casual dining sector, which has faced intense pressure from rising costs and shifting consumer habits. The loss of nearly 500 jobs is a significant blow to the local economies of the affected towns and cities.
While the pre-pack deal with Sugarloaf ensures the survival of a majority of the chain's outlets, the scale of the closures highlights the ongoing struggles within the industry. The future of the remaining 33 Fridays restaurants will now depend on the new ownership's strategy to navigate a competitive and costly market landscape.
