Eleven jobs to go as Little Chef shuts its doors
Staff have spoken of their sadness after it was announced the Little Chef at Barnetby Top is closing.
The 11 people working at the restaurant will lose their jobs when the store shuts on Sunday, February 5 after 22 years of serving motorists.
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CLOSING DOWN: The Barnetby Top branch of Little Chef, which is to close
Little Chef bosses have announced they will close 67 of the current portfolio of 161 sites.
A spokesman for the chain said the sites being closed had been trading unprofitably for a number of years due to a variety of economic and locational factors.
But Sue Dolby, manager of the Barnetby Top site, said it was terrible news to receive.
She said: "We are gutted and it is very sad news.
"We have had a lot of regular customers over the 22 years, including regulars from Nottingham and Mablethorpe."
Sue said the staff at the restaurant were told three weeks ago about the closure and they were initially shocked.
She said: "There are four or five staff who have worked here since the restaurant opened and they are devastated it is closing.
"The HR department came to visit us but could not offer any of the staff positions in other sites because there are no nearby restaurants.
"The atmosphere dropped when we first found out, but we have all been supporting each other since."
Staff are now looking for other employment.
Sue said: "We are all such a close team. We are like a family and I will miss them all. I don't know when I will get another job as there is currently so much competition for employment.
"However, I am determined not to let the news get me down and I am looking forward to a new start. Onwards and upwards."
The restaurant at Barnetby Top was saved from closure in 2007 following a late rescue bid by the private equity firm RCapital.
Staff member Sue Sargent, 53, has been working there on and off for 22 years. She said: "I worked in the restaurant during its hey-day and have noticed trade gradually decreasing over the years.
"I have seen the restaurant go through good and bad times.
"I think the trade has dropped because there is now a lot of fast food competition.
"Little Chef has become less popular over the years, which is a great shame.
"We used to have a lot more regular customers who would come on days out with families at the weekend.
"Eating out used to be a real treat but we recently started to see less and less of that.
"It is the end of an era and a great shame.
"Everyone is upset as we are a very close team. I want to say a big thank you to all our customers over the years for their support and custom."
2 Comments
by prokopchuk
Thursday, February 02 2012, 11:28AM
“To-day is a sad day in the history of British roadside dining. You realize what this means of course, 94 of the 'restaurants' will remain open !
Is this all part of the governments campaign against obesity one wonders ?
With all the rubber fried eggs, frazzled bacon, soggy toast and mashed up baked beans , not much to remember them by, except the in house daily papers which were a joy to read, as they took your mind off of what you were eating and drinking.”
by keyboardape
Thursday, February 02 2012, 11:07AM
“It's a shame really as these sort of roadside restaurants used to be all the rage but the rise of McDonald's and the like on motorways has been killing them for years. Always did like the toast at Little Chef.”