HwS’s Itsu restaurants in Aberdeen, Edinburgh and Reading are all listed as closed on the Itsu website with notes saying that they will ‘hopefully reopen soon’.
Scottish newspaper The National reports that the Aberdeen site closed on Saturday (18 January) and has a message on the door that reads: “Dear customers, the Itsu here in Aberdeen is closed and will hopefully re-open soon. We are so sorry for the inconvenience.
“Of the many beautiful Itsu restaurants across the United Kingdom, three were franchised to HWS Ltd, (Heart with Smart) including this busy one.
“The lease and ownership rights have unfortunately got caught up in their administration process. This restaurant has had to close whilst things are sorted out.
“We hope to re-open soon, and we will keep you updated on Itsu.com.”
Restaurant understands that the Edinburgh restaurant has posted the same message.
It comes after HwS, best known as the operator of Pizza Hut Restaurants in the UK, was acquired by Directional Capital in a pre-pack administration deal last week.
The transaction included the transfer and continuing operation of 139 Pizza Hut restaurants across the UK.
Restaurant has subsequently confirmed that the three Itsu restaurants were also included in the sale.
Itsu has been contacted regarding the future of the three sites.
HwS opened the first Itsu restaurant to be operated under franchise at Reading Gate Retail Park in Berkshire back in August 2021.
Sites in Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Staines, Surrey, followed with the latter subsequently closing at the tail end of last year.
Itsu is led by founder Julian Metcalfe and operates an estate of c.80 sites across the UK.
