The time is nearly here for two Nottingham restaurants near Showcase Cinema to close their doors for good. Anyone wanting their fix of American / Italian or Mexican food had better be quick as Frankie & Benny's and Chiquito, off Redfield Way, will serve their final customers on Saturday May 27.
The Restaurant Group which owns the chain warned in March it would close 35 Frankie & Benny's and Chiquito restaurants in a bid to boost profits. But it sped up the plans and now 23 sites will be closing by the end of this month.
A total of 18 Frankie & Benny's and four Chiquitos will close, along with a branch of Firejacks. The Restaurant Group expects to save £5million a year by closing its loss-making restaurants.
Keep up to date with all the latest food and drink news by signing up to our newsletter here
Just one American Italian Frankie & Benny's will remain in Nottinghamshire, at Giltbrook Retail Park. Sites in Nottingham city centre and Mansfield have both closed within the last three years. Mexican restaurant Chiquito used to have a branch in the Cornerhouse in Nottingham but it never reopened after lockdown in 2020.
Nottinghamshire Live readers have mixed feelings about the closures. Ronnie Cook said: "Poor excuse for Mexican and Italian," while Laura Clement-Howe added: "Not surprised F&B is going, but will miss Chiquito."
Others are saddened by the decision to shut the restaurants. Connie Louise Martyn wrote: "Absolutely gutted! We love Chiquito and are gonna be so sad it’s closing down! My daughters and I go for each birthday and special event and celebration! Sorry for the fab staff there we’ve got to know. Need to Google where closest one to Nottingham is now, I think Leicester, and hope they ain’t closing that down too!"
Cerron Higgins agreed: "This is a crime! They took away Frankie's in the city centre, they can't take this one too." Debbie Bennett posted: "Oh dear quite handy if going to the cinema so bit of a shame but if not enough custom not that surprising in the current economic climate. Just hope the staff aren't impacted too much and are either offered other roles or find their own new job elsewhere".
Others said Nando's, on the same site, is usually rammed. Only that and Five Guys will remain. Sam Houghton said: "I wonder if Nando's and Five Guys will survive? Seems odd that two restaurants struggle and two seem to be coping at the same location."
READ NEXT:
