Popular restaurant chain to close city centre location for good – months after closing three other sites
A POPULAR restaurant chain has closed one of its city centre locations for good just months after closing three other sites.
The Botanist in Birmingham city centre has permanently closed with bosses saying it was a “difficult decision” to take.
It comes after the New World Trading Company (NWTC), who are responsible for the chain, closed sites in Coventry, Sheffield and Chester earlier this year.
Diners have enjoyed a decade of cocktails, Sunday roasts and trademark hanging kebabs at the restaurant on Temple Street since April 2015, BirminghamLive reports.
And customers have taken to social media in confusion after its sudden closure.
One perplexed user said: “The Botanist in Birmingham (Temple Row) has just closed.
“I had a booking and they just cancelled as they are permanently closing.”
The restaurant has disabled its social media profiles and is now listed as permanently closed on Google.
It had earned a respectable 4.3 out of 5 stars on Google reviews from nearly 3,700 customers.
One happy customer shared just two weeks ago: “This is my type of restaurant/bar.
“I love the sophistication, dedication, decor, vibrancy, atmosphere and everything about this restaurant!”
A spokesperson for New World Trading Company said: “We have made the difficult decision to close our Birmingham, Temple Street site.
“This decision has not been taken lightly, but we believe is in the best interests for the overall health of the business.
“We’d like to take this opportunity to thank all our customers for their support and custom over the years and we hope to welcome them to our other Birmingham site located at Gas Street Basin, soon.”
The company also added that the closure only affects their Temple Street site.
It comes as the NWTC closed sites in Coventry, Sheffield and Chester in January.
And that followed the shuttering of three other sites in October 2024.
The company has been undergoing a restructure after encountering difficulties and confirmed the bars were not profitable.
In October 2024 New World Trading Centre agreed a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA), when it said it would refocus on its Botanist brand.
A CVA is a restructuring measure that lets businesses continue to trade whilst also closing stores and pushing through rent cuts.
The chain had experienced financial difficulties following the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, rising inflation and the cost-of-living crisis.
As well as closing sites the group has rebranded others and opened a new Botanist site in Bournemouth in May.
It currently operates 24 sites under the Botanist brand and also operates other brands including the Oast House, and the Trading House.
A swathe of other restaurants are also shutting this month including a huge Asian chain and beloved fine-dining spot.
It comes as the restaurant industry struggles amid high energy prices, wholesale costs and tax hikes.
What is happening to the hospitality industry?
By Laura McGuire, consumer reporter
MANY Food and drink chains have been struggling in recently as the cost of living has led to fewer people spending on eating out.
Businesses had been struggling to bounce back after the pandemic, only to be hit with soaring energy bills and inflation.
Multiple chains have been affected, resulting in big-name brands like Wetherspoons and Frankie & Benny’s closing branches.
Some chains have not survived, Byron Burger fell into administration last year, with owners saying it would result in the loss of over 200 jobs.
Pizza giant, Papa Johns is shutting down 43 of its stores soon.
Tasty, the owner of Wildwood, said it will shut sites as part of major restructuring plans
