Devastation as three Greater Manchester restaurants announce shock closures in less than 24 hours

Manchester’s hospitality sector has been left reeling after three restaurants across the city region closed their doors for good over less than 24 hours.

In a shocking triple blow to the restaurant industry the eateries Zing and Zest, Canvas and the Vurger Co have all shut down in quick succession this week. The closures come amid soaring energy and trading costs.

The Vurger Co was the first to reveal its sudden closure yesterday afternoon (February 21) citing ‘soaring’ costs and ‘plunging’ sales in the wake of the pandemic.

The Northern Quarter fast food spot with a 100 percent plant-based menu only made its Manchester debut last year after first establishing itself in London and Brighton. The chain has said it is closing all three locations.

In a post on Instagram the co-owners said they had ‘poured their souls’ into the business since initially building a community in 2016 but that half of those eight years had been ‘total turmoil’ due to the pandemic.

They continued that the last couple of years have also brought ‘seemingly endless domestic and international crises’ leading to ‘soaring costs’ through inflation and ‘plunging sales’ due to a reduction in customers’ spending power creating ‘a perfect storm’ for hospitality.

“To say that the industry is in crisis doesn’t even come close right now,” the co-owners added.

They went on to urge the Government to ‘wake up’ to the situation, calling for lower VAT, reforms to hospitality business rates, a reduction in National Insurance, and energy support.

Today the city region suffered two further blows with both Zing and Zest and Canvas announcing their closures.

This morning Zing and Zest, a popular Indian restaurant which donated meal vouchers to schools and supported the NHS during the lockdown, announced its closure after 12 years due to the cost-of-living crisis.

The owners of the Oldham Road restaurant in Ashton-under-Lyne issued a statement explaining it had been a ‘difficult’ decision to close the restaurant but one that had been made in the face of rising energy and trading costs.

In an emotional statement on social media, co-owner Habibi Rahman thanked customers for their invaluable ‘friendship, loyalty and patronage’ before adding: “While it saddens us to bid farewell, [due to] the cost rise in energy prices and cost rise in all other sectors of the trade, it has been very difficult for us to survive and continue trading”.

Fans of the restaurant were quick to express their devastation at the news. One said:“Absolutely heartbreaking, so sad to see. Thank you for hosting us so many times, you have been a massive part of our family’s celebrations and treat nights over the years.”

Another added: “Thanks for all the lovely food and memories over the years.”

News later broke that the late-night restaurant, bar and music venue Canvas had suddenly closed its doors.

Canvas, which was billed as a ‘next-generation’ dining and entertainment venue when it opened in July 2022, was known for its live music, food and drink and community events.

A sign in the window of the Oxford Road site states the venue is now closed and to contact a business advisory firm based in Manchester for more details. The building is part of the Bruntwood SciTech portfolio.