Four Scottish restaurants close as burger chain goes bust

All four of Scotland’s Handmade Burger Co restaurants have closed after the company experienced an “unsustainable” drop in sales.

The firm appointed David Griffiths, Conrade Beighton and Paul Masters of Leonard Curtis Business Rescue and Recovery as joint administrators on Thursday.

In Scotland, the chain had restaurants at St Vincent Street in Glasgow, Braehead Shopping Centre, Ocean Terminal in Edinburgh and Union Square in Aberdeen.

A sale of the business has not been possible, meaning the closure of 18 restaurants across the United Kingdom and the loss of 283 jobs.

Joint administrator David Griffiths said: “The casual dining market in the UK has experienced significant challenges over the last four years, largely as a result of overcapacity in the sector, which has resulted in a significant number of insolvencies.

“Sales at Handmade Burger Co. restaurants have almost halved during this period, which has proved to be unsustainable.

“It is disappointing that circumstances have meant that a sale of the business has not been possible in this case, but our focus now should be on those employees affected by this difficult news.

“We will work hard to provide them with all necessary assistance to claim for monies which remain due to them.”