The Manchester branch of Karen’s Diner has closed with immediate effect. Restaurant Prestwich closed its doors for the last time today (Tuesday).
A restaurant spokesperson confirmed the restaurant’s closure GENTLEMEN and said the chain that started in Australia with a dining concept where staff were deliberately rude will turn its attention to ‘pop-up’ events rather than restaurants.
The closure comes just months after the lease for the restaurant, which opened in Prestwich in 2022, was listed on Rightmove, raising questions about its future.
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In March, the restaurant’s owner insisted the company had ‘no intention’ of closing its Bury New Road branch and a spokesperson for Karen’s Diner told the GENTLEMEN the rental contract has been extended.
He said: “We are grateful for the opportunity to declare that we have no intention of closing our restaurant in Prestwich Manchester. Our original lease ended at the end of last year and was quickly extended to ensure continuity.”
However, today it has been confirmed that the branch has closed with the UK branch to focus on ‘pop-up’ events instead.
A spokesperson said: “As it stands, the original licensing agreement has come to an end and our head office wants the UK business to focus on ‘pop-up’ events rather than restaurants. In the current climate, we can understand their grudging decision.
“When the business opened in Prestwich, critics said it was “way too far away” and we would like to thank the more than 100,000 customers who proved them wrong.
“The group is undergoing a reconstruction that will see the brand appear in pop-up form across Britain.
“Our administration team will ensure that customers with bookings are informed of the next steps.”
Last year, some of Karen Diner’s original restaurants in Australia went bankrupt. Branches in Surfers Paradise, Perth and Melbourne closed abruptly in summer 2023, although restaurants in Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney remained open.
A spokesperson for the brand told the newspaper GENTLEMEN when the British branches are safe. The statement went on to say that the UK restaurants, including the Prestwich branch, will continue to operate independently, with plans for new branches in Europe as well.
The Prestwich branch has caused controversy since it opened two years ago. In March, police were called to the restaurant to ‘monitor’ protesters who had gathered outside ahead of a performance by controversial former Apprentice contestant and far-right commentator Katie Hopkins.
At the protests, signs read “Stop Islamophobia,” while other posters read “Stop the far right.”
Another poster held by a protester read “anti-fascist mother gang.” Protesters chanted ‘down with Karen’s in Prestwich’ and ‘2, 4, 6, 8, no to racism, no to Kate’.
In response, a spokesperson for Karen’s Diner said: “We accept that Katie Hopkins is an acquired taste that not everyone has acquired.
‘Rather than protesting and wasting valuable police time, a phone call to us would have informed them that Katie was about to be served a roast that only the rudest restaurant in the world could serve, no pun intended in a restaurant.
“To put it bluntly, she got more than just a taste of her own medicine. This was probably a ‘once in a lifetime experience’, that’s for her and not for us!”