Strada closes 11 sites as the casual dining market continues to suffer
After a review of its 26-strong portfolio, the group has announced the closures of 11 sites, which it says are "no longer viable as Stradas” in the industry’s hostile climate.
The company has cited rising rents, wages and business rates as reasons for the closure.
London branches in Camden, Clapham and Blackheath have closed, as well as restaurants in Harpenden, Hertfordshire; Newbury, Berkshire; Horsham, West Sussex; Henley, Oxfordshire; Cardiff, York and Cobham, and Surrey since Christmas.
The Birmingham Mailbox branch will also cease trading at the end of this week.
The company will be left with 14 Strada restaurants of its own (a further two are operated under license by Casual Dining Group) as well as four Coppa Clubs. It is planning on converting a previously closed Strada in Henley into the Coppa Club format.
The brand plans to convert three of the closed-down sites into new formats and is looking to sell the remaining seven.
In notices posted at its closed sites, the company states that all of the team members have been given the chance to relocate to another Strada restaurant, and that it has been “fortunate to see many of them take this opportunity”.
Strada’s decision to close so many of its sites is indicative of the difficulties faced by the casual dining market in 2017. Other chain restaurants including Byron and Jamie’s Italian have also opted to close a number of sites in the past year.
