The popular burger chain, Almost Famous, has declared the closure of all its UK restaurants.
The chain, which has branches in Manchester, Leeds, and Liverpool, unveiled the “heartbreaking” news through a statement from co-founder Beau Myers.
He expressed that the decision to shut down all outlets was taken with “tearful eyes”, saying it was due to debts from the COVID-19 pandemic, escalating costs, and fewer people being able to afford to dine out.
He acknowledged these financial pressures were “stacked against us”, and decided that the economic climate had “proven too challenging for us to overcome”, leaving them with no alternative but to close down.
Beau stated their top priority now is helping all their employees to secure new roles.
He described the staff as having “been like family to us” and expressed his deep regret that they “deeply sorry we couldn’t weather the storm for you.”
In his statement, he said: “For over 13 years, we’ve had the privilege of working alongside some of the most talented and passionate people in hospitality. We will do everything we can to support you during this transition. To everyone who’s been part of our story – thank you from the bottom of our hearts.”
The chain’s website has since been taken down, replaced by a page displaying the full statement, with the site’s title also changed to “THIS IS GOODBYE”.
At its peak, the chain operated four restaurants, but its Manchester suburb site in Withington closed last year, reports the Mirror.
When it first opened its doors in Manchester’s Northern Quarter in 2012, Almost Famous was initially met with glowing five-star reviews for its innovative and affordable burgers, priced between £8 and £10.50.
The menu boasted unique creations such as the “Triple Nom” burger, loaded with melted cheese, pulled pork, coleslaw, and barbecue sauce, and the Down and Out burger, featuring American cheddar cheese, Wonderdust hotdog melt, trailer trash onions, mustard, and “Million Island” sauce.
The establishment was also renowned for its original cocktail recipes and loaded fries.
In his statement, Beau Myers acknowledged that Almost Famous had been at the “forefront of the burger and casual dining scene” for the past 13 years.
Despite being busy in its final months and continuing to receive “glowing” reviews, he expressed hope that Almost Famous may make a comeback one day.
He added: “We’ve served over a million burgers, hosted countless amazing guests, and had the privilege of working alongside some of the most talented and passionate people in hospitality.”
