Over 800 restaurant, bar and coffee shop chains have closed their doors for good since the beginning of the pandemic, according to new research compiled for the Evening Standard.

The study showed that when administrations and CVAs are included, chains with 6,231 outlets have been affected.

That compares with 593 closed during the two previous years. This figure included shakeups at Patisserie Valerie and The Restaurant Group, which accounted for nearly 150 of the closures.

Across the casual dining sub-sector, many outlets have been lost including: 185 Frankie & Bennys and Chiquitos, 91 Big Tables, 75 Zizzi (pictured) and Ask, and 73 Pizza Express.

During the same period, a great many independent and family-run eateries have also permanently closed their doors.

Companies still need much more than the government grants to recover, and have called for rates and VAT relief to be extended beyond April.

Evening Standard stated that many private equity investors in the sector have been wiped out by the pandemic, including entrepreneurial management teams with stakes in their businesses. However, there are hopes that the vaccines will spark a resurgence in going out.

(source: Evening Standard, image: Zizzi)