Giraffe owner buys Ed's Easy Diner

The deal includes the brand, head office team and 33 Ed’s restaurants, which will be incorporated in to the giraffe restaurant group bought by BRH from Tesco earlier this year.

The 26 other Ed’s sites are set to close, with over 350 redundancies.

But administrators KPMG, who struck the deal, said the sale would secure around 700 jobs.

KPMG partner Rob Croxen said: "While we are pleased the transaction preserves around 700 jobs, our immediate priority in the coming days will be to liaise with those employees who have been affected by redundancy and ensure that in addition to receiving all back pay owed, they are provided with any assistance they need."

Ed’s, which is themed around 1950’s America, recently announced plans to open ten restaurants in travel hubs across the UK in partnership with SSP.

Tom Crowley managing director of giraffe Concepts Ltd, said : “Ed’s Easy Diner has been an integral part of the UK casual dining scene for the past four decades and we are very excited about the business joining the group and the opportunities ahead.”

BRH also owns the Fishworks chain and bought Vivek Singh’s Cinnamon Collection - including the Michelin-starred Cinnamon Club restaurant- in January this year.