Maxwell’s Restaurants in London's West End, which owns eight venues including the historic Cafe de Paris, has entered liquidation, according to The Sunday Times, with 400 jobs lost.
Liquidators Live Recoveries told the newspaper, “Despite hope that December would generate a much-needed upturn in trading income, it was apparent low customer numbers, uncertainty surrounding trading, and mounting creditors and rent arrears left the company with no alternative.”
The 10pm and 11pm curfews hit nightclubs like Cafe de Paris especially hard as, before the pandemic, it was open until 3am.
The Cafe de Paris team posted this heartfelt message on twitter: 'We wanted you all to know that we have not gone without a fight. We tried everything but the devastating effect of COVID-19 in the end was too much. We did our best to support our staff, their livelihoods & respect everyone's health & safety but in the end, like so many other hospitality businesses, we have come to the end of the road.'
The award-winning Cafe de Paris, which opened in 1924, has played host to everybody from Frank Sinatra to Grace Kelly to Noel Coward. At least 34 people were killed when a German bomb struck the venue in March 1941, but the venue was refurbished and reopened in 1948. In 1955, it welcomed Princess Margaret for an evening of entertainment (pictured).
Maxwell’s Restaurants' other sites include: Tropicana Beach Club, Sticky Fingers, Roadhouse, PJ's, Old Compton Brasserie, Palm Court and Boulevard Brasserie.