Bistrot Pierre in Birmingham and Pierre’s in Mere Green Sutton Coldfield are among eight closures nationwide in a pre-pack deal to save the remaining 10 sites

A number of restaurants of a once popular nationwide restaurant chain have closed, five in the Midlands, as part of a deal to save the rest of the chain.

Bistrot Pierre has confirmed it has closed eight restaurants across the country, including its Birmingham outlet in Gas Street and its newly rebranded Pierre’s café bar in Sutton Coldfield ’s Mulberry Walk development in Mere Green.

Other restaurants to go in the region include are the Kidderminster eatery in Exchange Street, the Leamington Spa restaurant in Park Street and the Broadgate Square outlet in Coventry.

Also gone are restaurants in Newport in south Wales and Southport and Preston restaurants in the North West of England.

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Those eight closures include the loss of 158 jobs to redundancy with the firm citing incoming minimum wage and national insurance rises imposed by the Labour Government as making its smaller sites ‘unviable’.

It said: “The administrators will be providing all available support to those impacted as a matter of priority.”

A ‘substantial part’ of Bistrot Pierre has now been ‘secured’ the business said following a sale to Cherry Equity Partners.

The sale was undertaken via a pre-pack administration process it said.

And it ensures 10 Bistrot Pierre sites around the country will continue to trade, ‘safeguarding 394 jobs’.

CEO Mr White speaking about the deal said: “We are delighted to have secured the future of the business and, with the backing of Cherry Equity Partners, now have a strong platform in place for future growth.

“At the same time, we are tremendously sad to see eight of our sites close.

“The impending increases in National Minimum Wage and National Insurance contributions will add hundreds of thousands of pounds to our costs, making our smaller locations simply unviable.

“We’d like to express our sincere thanks to our teams that have worked so hard to serve the fantastic customers that have visited these locations over the years.”

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Ed Standring, CEO of Cherry Equity Partners, said: “This investment marks our second acquisition in as many months, and underscores our deep commitment to the UK hospitality sector – an industry we’re incredibly passionate about and one we believe is full of opportunity.

“Bistrot Pierre is a well-loved Bistrot, bar and boutique rooms business with a great heritage, and we’re looking forward to working with Nick and the team to invest and grow the business.”

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The French-themed chain had recently changed its Bistrot Pierre, in Mere Green, which had been at the location for seven years, into a ‘Pierre’s’ only last September.

It said the change was to move away from formal dining to a ‘more informal drinking and eating venue’. It followed a similar move at its Newport site.

The change included a complete refurbishment and a new look.

At the time company CEO Nick White said: “Sutton Coldfield is a fantastic community and launching Pierre’s represents a thrilling opportunity for us to provide a fantastic hospitality venue to suit all occasions.

“The exciting relaunch has enabled us to offer something for everyone, a place where guests can sit and chat over a coffee, enjoy a cocktail or two, or indulge in a bigger meal with friends and family.”

But it appears that change has not led to the necessary boost in income.

The pre-pack deal was led by Will Wright and Dom Pannozzo at Interpath.

Will Wright, UK CEO of Interpath and joint administrator of Bistrot Pierre 1994 Limited, said: “We’re pleased to have been able to secure this transaction which will ensure this popular brand continues to feature on high streets around the country.

“We wish everyone at Bistrot Pierre and Cherry Equity Partners all the very best as they build on this new platform for growth.”