One of the UK's most recognisable family restaurant chains has fallen into administration, triggering the immediate shutdown of more than a dozen locations across the country.
Administration Leads to Widespread Closures
The Liberty Bar and Restaurant Group, which operates TGI Fridays in the UK, filed a notice of intent to appoint administrators just days before Christmas in 2025. This was followed by a formal administration notice earlier in December. The process has now resulted in the permanent closure of 16 restaurants nationwide.
Administrators from Interpath confirmed that a total of 456 workers have been impacted by the decision. While two sites in Scotland – one in Edinburgh and another in Aberdeen – have shut, the majority of the closures are concentrated in England.
Full List of English Restaurant Closures
Despite securing a pre-pack administration deal with Sugarloaf, the entity behind the global TGI Fridays brand, these 14 English locations will not reopen:
- Ashton Under Lyne, Greater Manchester
- Doncaster, South Yorkshire
- Staines, Surrey
- Stevenage, Hertfordshire
- Walsall, West Midlands
- Bournemouth, Dorset
- Telford, Shropshire
- Reading, Berkshire
- Coventry, Warwickshire
- Crawley, West Sussex
- Nottingham, Nottinghamshire
- Sheffield, South Yorkshire
- Stratford, Greater London
- Braintree, Essex
A High Street Casualty Amid Ongoing Crisis
The administrators noted that 33 TGI Fridays restaurants will continue trading, preserving 1,384 jobs. The chain, famed for its American-style menu and lively atmosphere, first opened in New York in 1965 with the promise of making every day feel like Friday.
However, TGI Fridays has become the latest victim of the severe pressures facing the UK high street and hospitality sector. Reduced consumer footfall, escalating business rates, and the relentless Cost of Living crisis have collectively taken a heavy toll on the business, forcing this significant restructuring.
The closures mark a sombre moment for a brand that once prided itself on creating a "legendary atmosphere" and being a hub for fun and celebration.
