TGI Fridays staff 'locked out without warning' as 35 branches abruptly shut down

Over 1,000 TGI Fridays staff were left jobless after the restaurant chain abruptly closed 35 UK branches, including its Speke location, on Monday, October 7.

The closures came as a shock, with staff reportedly given less than an hour's notice. According to the Unite Hospitality union, employees arrived to find locked doors and changed padlocks, with no redundancy consultations or clear communication from management.

Some staff were invited to an online call with just an hour’s notice, while others received no communication. Unite’s Bryan Simpson condemned the treatment as "a national disgrace," adding that workers had not been informed if they would be paid for previous work. Unite is now assisting affected employees, urging them to seek support.