ABOUT 40 workers have lost their jobs after two restaurants on the Festival Leisure Park, Basildon, became the latest casualties of the recession.
Chili’s and Romano’s Macaroni Grill closed yesterday. Customers were greeted by a sign from administrator MCR telling them what had happened.
The two restaurants are among eight – six Chili’s and two Macaroni Grills – operated by parent company Hatfield Restaurants to have gone into administration across the country.
Andrew Stoneman and Paul Clark, partners at MCR, have been appointed joint administrators. In a statement the firm said: “The restaurants were closed immediately upon administration and the joint administrators are seeking buyers for the premises and catering assets, which are available for ongoing restaurant businesses.”
Amanda Mills, Festival Leisure Park marketing director, insisted business was still good at Bas Vegas.
She said: “Festival Leisure Park is doing really well. Despite the economic climate we have increased the number of visitors year on year.”
She blamed the closures on the poor performance of other restaurants in the chain.
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