Restaurant chain with ASK Italian branch in Bury St Edmunds to close 75 sites

A restaurant chain which owns a branch in Bury St Edmunds is to close about 75 sites following a take over.

The Azzurri Group, which owns Zizzi, ASK Italian and Coco di Mama, has been bought by TowerBrook Capital Partners.

About 75 sites will not reopen following the coronavirus crisis with up to 1,200 jobs at risk.

Bury St Edmunds has a branch of ASK Italian, in Parkway next to Cineworld.

Azzurri has not yet confirmed which restaurants will close but about 225 of the company's restaurants and shops will reopen.

Steve Holmes, CEO of Azzurri Group, said the coronavirus crisis had a 'profound impact on the casual dining sector'.

He said: "Despite being a successful operator, the immediate loss of revenue during lockdown meant that we have had to make some incredibly difficult decisions to protect the business for the long term.

"It is with deep sadness that this process will result in the permanent closure of a number of sites and that we must say goodbye to greatly valued employees across our brands.

"Looking forwards, TowerBrook is a strong new partner who shares our ambitions for the future.

"Their additional investment has enabled us to preserve the majority of our restaurants, stores and jobs and I am confident that, under TowerBrook’s ownership, Azzurri will navigate the period ahead successfully.

"We look forward to welcoming customers back in the near future and to our next chapter with optimism."