Halifax's Frankie & Benny's could shut permanently

A 'large number' of Frankie & Bennys outlets will remain closed after lockdown, it has been reported.

The decision could mean the restaurant on Broad Street Plaza, in Halifax, could be at risk of shutting up shop for good.

According to an email seen by the BBC, the owner of dining chain The Restaurant Group (TRG) is set to tell staff that many sites are “no longer viable to trade and will remain closed permanently”.

The email said: “The Covid-19 crisis has significantly impacted our ability to trade profitably, so we’ve taken the tough decision to close these restaurants now.”

Although it is not clear how many sites will be affected, the BBC says the message was sent to managers in the group’s Leisure Division, which consists of more than 200 Frankie & Benny’s restaurants.

There is one restaurant in Halifax, one in the nearby city of Bradford, one near Birstall, and three Frankie & Benny’s restaurants in Leeds.

The BBC says TRG declined to comment on the report.