Cote mulls closures as casual dining troubles strike again
Cote restaurant chain is looking to shut down a series of London-based eateries in yet another sign of stress in the casual dining sector.
The chain, which is owned by private equity firm BC Partners, is looking at options for its Jackson + Rye brasserie and Limeyard diner brands, both of which have a presence in the capital. Jackson + Rye has branches in Bank, Chiswick, Soho and Richmond, while Limeyard has restaurants in Ealing and Staines.
Options could include disposals or rebranding them under a new name, as well as possible closures. The move is not thought to affect the main Cote brand.
A spokesperson said: “As a result of recent and well documented headwinds for the restaurant sector we have taken the decision to explore a range of options for a very small number of Jackson + Rye and Limeyard restaurants.
“In some instances we have closed or sold outlets and we are working hard to find viable options for others while continuing to support those that are trading well.
“Our Côte restaurants continue to perform well which is a testament to the strength of that offer in what remains a very challenging environment.”
This is the latest firm to reveal the affect of a slowdown in the casual dining sector, which has also hit Byron Burgers, Prezzo, Jamie Oliver’s various franchises and Carluccio’s.