BARNSLEY Council has come under scrutiny after it was revealed that £1m was allocated to support the fit-out a restaurant at the Glass Works.
TGI Fridays opened in the spring of 2022 and is one of two major restaurants – alongside Nando’s – in the regenerated town centre.
The firm received incentives from the council to come to the town but it’s now been revealed that all of its 87 chains in the country have been put up for sale.
Its UK owner, Hostmore, is looking to shift the brand to a fully franchise-operated business, before it is expected to be wound down, potentially leaving its shareholders with nothing.
The council has defended the contribution, stating that it was standard practice in the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors to provide capital for incoming tenants.
Council bosses have reassured customers that it is business as usual at TGI Fridays and assured taxpayers that the contribution was accounted for within the Glass Works’ original budget.
A spokesperson for Barnsley Council said: “Capital contributions are standard practice across the retail, leisure and hospitality sectors – the Glass Works is no exception.
“These contributions are negotiated on an individual basis with each incoming tenant and both the council and our leasing agents have diligently worked to ensure that they meet industry standards and deliver value for money.
“In the unfortunate event that TGI Fridays does close – though we sincerely hope this won’t occur – we will work closely with our leasing agents to secure a suitable new tenant for the space.
“Given the unit’s size and prime location, we are confident in our ability to re-let it if necessary, supporting the affected staff as we would in any situation of this nature
