IN a week when upmarket steakhouse rivals Hawksmoor confirmed plans to open a branch in New York the Gaucho restaurant group, burdened with a seven figure tax bill, is facing administration with a threat to 1,500 jobs.
It is a further body blow for the hospitality industry after a torrid 12 months which has seen Jamie’s Italian, Prezzo and Byron Burgers forced to shut numerous outlets.
Immediate casualty of Gaucho’s struggles is the underperforming Cau arm, whose 23 outlets include MediaCityUK, Wilmslow and Didsbury (pictured below) have shut with immediate effect. All the Gauchos are still trading as normal, including the Manchester branch on St Mary’s Street, after directors filed notice of an intention to appoint administrators in the absence of a rescue deal.
ToM fave Gaucho, specialising in Argentinian steaks and fine wine, looks a viable candidate for survival. It is a class act.
