Bourgee closes three restaurants after falling to in administration

The sites in Southend-on-Sea, Chelmsford and Bury St Edmunds have passed to a new owner and will trade under a new company name.

It comes after Ensors Accountants took over administration of Bourgee Restaurants Limited earlier this month.

Founding directors James Welling and Mark Baumann opened the first Bourgee in Southend-on-Sea​​ in 2014. The brand was billed as offering “affordable luxury” without an “over-inflated price tag”.

In a statement Welling and Baumann apologised for leaving customers “confused and disappointed”.

They said: “Following a protracted dispute and lengthy discussions between all parties – it is with sadness that we can confirm the Bourgee Restaurants located in Southend-On-Sea, Chelmsford and Bury St Edmunds have now closed.

“Despite exhaustive efforts to purchase and retain all venues, a way forward could not be agreed.  As a consequence the ownership of these restaurants has passed to a new owner.

“We would like to reiterate that these units are no longer part of the Bourgee Restaurant brand, and will be trading under a new company name. They will have no association whatsoever with Bourgee or with us individually.”

The team will now focus on their Bourgee Bites – Bar – Luxe Lounge​​ at London Southend Airport, which opened in 2017, and plan to announce new Bourgee restaurants this summer.

“These venues will be entirely owned and operated by us as a duo, and will continue to build on the Bourgee brand, concept and delivery that has been so warmly received since launch in 2014,” they said.

“We would like to thank Bourgee fans for their loyal commitment to the restaurants over the last four years and look forward to welcoming them again as we step into a new era for the brand.”

The team said all unused gift vouchers for Bourgee restaurants could be used at the airport site and would be valid at the new sites when they opened this summer.