The First Dates restaurant in Manchester could close, as owner Drake & Morgan looks for breathing space
The restaurant group behind the restaurant plans to enter a CVA
The Refinery has been used by Channel 4 for First Dates since 2020 (Image: Colin Horne - Manchester Evening News)
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Drake & Morgan to enter a Company Voluntary Arrangement Bar and restaurant group Drake & Morgan is to enter a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) in order to help it recover from prolonged closures due to the Coronavirus pandemic.
The decision follows a strategic review of the business and will lead to the closure of three of group’s 22 bars and restaurants. All team members in affected sites will be offered alternative roles within the company, it says.
The proposal seeks the support of landlords and, together with the backing of other creditors in recent months, will secure the long-term future of the business, according to the company.
Greene King revives team member support fund for third lockdown
Brewer and pub operator Greene King has launched a new Covid emergency support fund using voluntary salary sacrifices from its executive board and leadership team alongside a company donation in order to help its team members during lockdown three.
The new team member support fund mirrors the first edition which ran from March to June 2020, through which Greene King donated £650,000 in grants for team members to access essential food and retail vouchers.
Once again, the fund will again be managed independently by Licensed Trade Charity.
“It’s a really tough start to 2021, back into lockdown and all of our pubs closed,” Nick Mackenzie, CEO at Greene King, said. “Most of our team members are furloughed, and we know how severely this is affecting some of our people financially, so we wanted to bring back the team member support fund to help the members of our team who need it most at this really difficult t