A FRENCH restaurant chain has closed its Colchester town centre site.

Café Rouge, in High Street, closed on Sunday.

Staff were told in January the restaurant was likely to close in March, but found out last week it would be closing on Valentine’s Day.

The company has emailed diners announcing the closure.

 

James Spragg, managing director of Café Rouge, said: “We have sought to agree new terms with the landlord of this restaurant.

“Unfortunately, we have not been able to reach any agreement with the property owner and therefore the lease on our Colchester restaurant has come to an end.

“We are sad to be leaving. However, Café Rouge recently embarked on an ambitious expansion and investment programme that will see us open many new restaurants in the next three years – creating hundreds of jobs.

“As part of this opening programme, we hope to identify a new restaurant site in the Colchester area, and look forward to being able to return as soon as possible.”

Bill Frame, councillor responsible for economic growth at Colchester Council, said: “It’s come as a bolt out of the blue.

“It’s disappointing that what seemed to be a well-used restaurant should just close quickly like that. I’m puzzled.”

Ron Levy, secretary of the Colchester Retail Business Association, said: “It’s disappointing. It’s been there a long time.

“We can only hope that one closure gives an opportunity for a new business to come in.”

The French-food chain, made famous by the Bridget Jones’ Diary novels, opened its first restaurant in 1989 and now has more than 90 sites across the country.

The nearest remaining restaurant is in Chelmsford.