Staff at Red's True Barbecue knew they were facing redundancy while dealing with a plethora of problems including "screaming dissatisfied customers, gas problems and lack of food", according to a former supervisor at the Nottingham restaurant. Commenting on the news of the venue's closure on Nottinghamshire Live's Facebook page, Lav Omar, who had worked at the restaurant in Queen Street for nearly six years, said: "My team were absolutely amazing, we remained in high spirits even towards the end when we knew what was happening.
"The decline in quality of food and the smooth sailing of this restaurant - or the 'gradual decline' you all speak of - is reflective of the current economy and a much more deeply rooted issue, a lot higher up in the food chain. If I were to sit here and write about the amount of issues we have had and have been neglected and left to our own devices about with no real help, I would be here all day.
"That said, before you comment or try to pin any of the restaurant's issues on staff, please reconsider and think before you speak, there is always a bigger picture. A lot of us were reliant upon this job not only for income, but also because it felt like a family.
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"We tried so hard to independently put so much effort in because the building and branch itself was so dear in all of our hearts. We kept up the morale to serve a lot of you good people when we were very much aware of our redundancy and the weeks to come, and still battled through regardless of the screaming dissatisfied customers, gas problems, and the food (lack thereof) along with a plethora of other things.
"All I ask is please be kind. This team were like my family and the most amazing people I have met."
Lav's comments come as readers reacted to the closure of the barbecue restaurant which served towering burgers, ribs, brisket wings and pulled pork - not forgetting its famous festive special presented in a dustbin lid.
The Nottingham restaurant opened in 2015, latching on to the trend at that time of smokehouses and big meaty feasts. In 2019, the company, which also had restaurants in cities including Leeds and Manchester, was bought out of administration by Manchester-based club and bar operator Tokyo Industries.
Its closure was announced in a sign on the window saying: "Sorry for the inconvenience, but due to business costs and the cost-of-living crisis Red's True BBQ will be closing for the unseeable (sic) future. Thank you to everyone that that has been with us over the years, it has been an absolute pleasure!"
Former customers said it had been "brilliant" at the start but went downhill. Dom Suffolk said: "This place was SO good and then it went downhill fast. Nottingham would benefit from a small, specialised BBQ joint. Either Texan or south African."
Arti Patel added: "I agree. I went when it first opened and it was brilliant but the next time I went the food was awful." Joy Bush commented: "Only went once and it was awful. The food was awful, some of it cold. Took 45 minutes to get drinks at the table. Never went back."
Nico Harry wrote: "Food was half decent but there was always something they didn’t have. Couple that with overpriced plus slow service and it was never going to last." Stacey Amos, meantime, recalled the time she went and "they basically had no meat".
There's still some who kept the faith. Ade Smith said: "Best restaurant in Nottingham. Very sad to see it close." William Ellis agreed, commenting: "That's a shame, great food, service was the best."
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