George's Dining Room and Bar, the neighbourhood restaurant co-owned by Manchester United legend Ryan Giggs, has closed with "immediate effect", staff have been told. The Worsley restaurant was opened by the former Reds star and two of his old school pals amid a fanfare of publicity back in 2014.
But the venue on Barton Road was cloaked in darkness on Friday night, with signs on the door informing customers it was closed "due to unforeseen circonstances [sic]." The sign added that it would be closed for the weekend.
However texts, seen by the M.E.N., were sent to staff earlier on Friday from bosses saying it was closing with immediate effect.
In the messages it said they: "regret to announce that with a heavy heart we have no alternative but to close George's effective immediately."
It went on to say: "This is due to the obvious reduction in trade and business against the huge increases in costs of operating the business and the ongoing cost of living crisis".
Stunned staff say they were told they would be paid outstanding wages in "due course" as well as notice payment, and for "those to whom it applies a redundancy payment."
One staff member, who asked not to be named, said: "It came totally out of the blue, we were all supposed to be working today and then we got the text messages through, we are all stunned."
The sign on the door of the closed restaurant pictured on Friday night read: "To all our costumers [sic] Due to unforeseen circonstances [sic], unfortunately George's will be closed for the weekend.
"We are sorry for any inconvenience. George's team."
We have approached the owners for further comment on the closure.
Footballer Giggs had realised a lifelong dream opening the restaurant along with his old school
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