ONE of the flagship signings of Barnsley town centre’s £210m regeneration has closed its doors just two years after opening.
TGI Fridays opened in the spring of 2022 and was one of two major restaurants alongside Nando’s in the Glass Works and received a seven-figure fit-out from Barnsley Council.
A total of 87 of its American-themed eateries were put up for sale last month but all had remained open.
However, Barnsley’s branch closed its doors last week along with 34 others, culminating in the loss of 1,000 jobs across the UK.
A council spokesperson said: “We are deeply saddened to hear about the closure and the subsequent loss of jobs, including the one located in Barnsley town centre.
“We will be working to support the affected staff through our employment support team and working with partners as we would in any situation of this nature.
“Work will now commence with the administrator and our leasing agent on the next steps to reopen the restaurant or secure a suitable new tenant.
“Given the unit’s size and prime location, we are confident in our ability to re-let the space if needed.
“There are well-documented challenges for the leisure and retail sector in the current economic climate nationally.
“However, in Barnsley we’ve built a model that bucks many national trends.
“The Glass Works is thriving and we continue to see increased footfall in our town centre that is the envy of many other towns and cities.
“The centre is now 90 per cent let with new tenants including Trespass and Vitruvian Dental Studio due to open this year, plus others we hope to announce over the coming weeks.
“As the fitted-out unit remains in our possession, that initial investment will help in the re-letting of this space.”
Employees’ union Unite condemned the abruptness of the restaurants’ closures.
Spokesperson Bryan Simpson added: “The way in which workers have been treated across TGI Fridays is a national disgrace.
“To close venues and lock people out of their workplace with absolutely no notice is a moral outrage.
“We are currently supporting our TGI members through this incredibly anxious situation.”
