£20 for a burger in this economy is scandalous, ripperonis.
Really not surprised. Last time we went there we got given a table, place was half empty. Sat for near 20 minutes without even getting asked if we wanted a drink, so we left again and ate next door instead.
I think they lost what they were trying to be.
Should’ve pivoted towards being a genuine treat of an experience, rather than being a glorified mcdonalds with a waiter.
Their marketing team should be ashamed of themselves.
Add to that Frankie and Benny’s, Wagamama and Chiquitos all closed near me. No great loss really, but I did used to enjoy Chiquitos. The end of a mediocre era.
Oh no! Anyways …
(Sympathies for the workers though)
Not surprised. My last visit ended up with food poisoning. Also they are so overpriced I
Damn, that Jack Daniels sauce they put on the chicken strips was epic ! I wish I could buy that bottled…..
The waiters in these places stopped us going. So fake nice bordering on creepy.
Just come over write down what we want and fuck off. It’s not hard. I do not want to be your mate.
I’ve not been to one for years and years.
So many other unique restaurants have opened up with friendlier staff and better food.
In my opinion they needed to update their ideas and menu if they wanted to survive, but it seems like they stuck to what they knew and no longer stayed relevant.
Good. Can we get rid of the rest of the overpriced american chain “restaurants” as well, please?
One of my friends insists on going there every year for her birthday and, honestly, I don’t know how its held on this long. Wetherspoons food at gourmet prices.
I am surprised they lasted this long.
I actually remember when they started up and at that time they were one of the first places to do quality fast food. They had a niche. Fast forward a couple of decades and it became really average to poor quality food at a high price. There was just no way they were going to continue to exist with that offering.
I only ate there on expenses, and even then resented their prices!
Usual story, Private Equity buys up a successful chain. Loads it up with debt and spurious management charges by the owners to the chain. Often sells off the property portfolio to a company related to the new owners and charges extortionate rent to the restaurants. Owners increase prices and cut quality to pay the rent, debt and management fees. Until the company goes bust. Just look at PIzza Express and Pizza Hut (UK).
About 5 years ago I pitched for the TGI Fridays UK advertising account. Our big creative idea was all about embracing the best of Americana, basically just leaning in big time to everything USA. Britain as the 51st State. It was a fun idea, but ultimately the business seemed doomed from the start. And in the end we didn’t win.
They had gotten proper stingy with the portion sizes last time I went. Went in hungry and left still hungry.
Same thing as Frankie and bennies, come into market with great food and great portions, slowly cut costs everywhere whilst wondering where all your customers disappeared to.
Not surprised as it was truly awful. Best TGI I ever experienced was not even in the UK or US.
Sucks for people losing tbeir jobs. But gosh the brand sucks and really won’t be missed by anyone.
I last went there with the kids in the nineties. We used to love going there as a family. When it opened it was awesome we drove from the country into Croydon to swim in the giant aqua centre then go to tgif afterwards. Happy days.
Went there once many years ago. Ordered a veggie burger. They brought me a meat burger. I never went back. No loss to the high street IMO.
I’ve only ever had TGI Fridays once in Newcastle several years ago and really enjoyed it.
I had chicken fajitas and thought it was reasonable value for money and the service was good.
Judging by the comments here I must have been lucky!
The bubble’s burst, there are just too many American takeaways in the UK now for all of them to prosper without stepping on each other’s toes. Next town over from me is opening another KFC in a historic building when it already has four fried chicken shops and the last KFC shut not long ago, oh and the Burger King is closing down too. It’s ridiculous.
The moment I spot restaurant/chain branded ready meals in the freezer section of the supermarket, I know it’s on its way out.
I used to go to TGI Friday’s all the time, like once a month. It was decent food at a decent price. The last few years it just went completely downhill and the prices practically doubled. I’ve not been in a long time but I won’t really miss it due to there being so many other options out there, which is a shame because I used to love it. As long as they start selling the Jack Daniels glaze in a bottle, I’ll be happy. (No, it isn’t the same as Jack Daniels BBQ sauce, please don’t try telling me that it is the same thing, it isn’t the same thing)
I’m sorry for those who will be losing their jobs, but tbh I’m not at all surprised.
We went to TGIs a couple of weeks ago, half the restaurant was entirely empty, but for some reason they had sat every table next to each other, which was not only weird but irritating because of how cramped and noisy it felt.
Speaking of noise, they had the music on so loud I couldn’t hear the person sat next to me over it.
They then didn’t come and ask for any drink or food order for 15 minutes, which was a bit annoying considering half the staff were just chatting at the bar.
The place was also filthy, sticky tables and chairs, menus covered in sauce and the floor was disgusting.
The menu was pretty weak and the prices were outrageous, I’m sure it was something like £26 for chicken fajitas.
Before the server came back we just got up and left.
It’s all energy policy. We’ve known what we need for 30 years, we’re covered in rivers, we have insane amounts of wind, but we’re also full of nimbys and green energy skeptics who are old and don’t like change, and dislike the idea of a solar farm on their local fields with fck all else in them.
Yes I’m linking the close of TGI Fridays to the price of energy. Yep. Fcking boomers, man.
27 comments
£20 for a burger in this economy is scandalous, ripperonis.
Really not surprised. Last time we went there we got given a table, place was half empty. Sat for near 20 minutes without even getting asked if we wanted a drink, so we left again and ate next door instead.
I think they lost what they were trying to be.
Should’ve pivoted towards being a genuine treat of an experience, rather than being a glorified mcdonalds with a waiter.
Their marketing team should be ashamed of themselves.
Add to that Frankie and Benny’s, Wagamama and Chiquitos all closed near me. No great loss really, but I did used to enjoy Chiquitos. The end of a mediocre era.
Oh no! Anyways …
(Sympathies for the workers though)
Not surprised. My last visit ended up with food poisoning. Also they are so overpriced I
Damn, that Jack Daniels sauce they put on the chicken strips was epic ! I wish I could buy that bottled…..
The waiters in these places stopped us going. So fake nice bordering on creepy.
Just come over write down what we want and fuck off. It’s not hard. I do not want to be your mate.
I’ve not been to one for years and years.
So many other unique restaurants have opened up with friendlier staff and better food.
In my opinion they needed to update their ideas and menu if they wanted to survive, but it seems like they stuck to what they knew and no longer stayed relevant.
Good. Can we get rid of the rest of the overpriced american chain “restaurants” as well, please?
One of my friends insists on going there every year for her birthday and, honestly, I don’t know how its held on this long. Wetherspoons food at gourmet prices.
I am surprised they lasted this long.
I actually remember when they started up and at that time they were one of the first places to do quality fast food. They had a niche. Fast forward a couple of decades and it became really average to poor quality food at a high price. There was just no way they were going to continue to exist with that offering.
I only ate there on expenses, and even then resented their prices!
Usual story, Private Equity buys up a successful chain. Loads it up with debt and spurious management charges by the owners to the chain. Often sells off the property portfolio to a company related to the new owners and charges extortionate rent to the restaurants. Owners increase prices and cut quality to pay the rent, debt and management fees. Until the company goes bust. Just look at PIzza Express and Pizza Hut (UK).
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/sep/18/tgi-fridays-uk-future-in-doubt-administration
About 5 years ago I pitched for the TGI Fridays UK advertising account. Our big creative idea was all about embracing the best of Americana, basically just leaning in big time to everything USA. Britain as the 51st State. It was a fun idea, but ultimately the business seemed doomed from the start. And in the end we didn’t win.
They had gotten proper stingy with the portion sizes last time I went. Went in hungry and left still hungry.
Same thing as Frankie and bennies, come into market with great food and great portions, slowly cut costs everywhere whilst wondering where all your customers disappeared to.
Not surprised as it was truly awful. Best TGI I ever experienced was not even in the UK or US.
Sucks for people losing tbeir jobs. But gosh the brand sucks and really won’t be missed by anyone.
I last went there with the kids in the nineties. We used to love going there as a family. When it opened it was awesome we drove from the country into Croydon to swim in the giant aqua centre then go to tgif afterwards. Happy days.
Went there once many years ago. Ordered a veggie burger. They brought me a meat burger. I never went back. No loss to the high street IMO.
I’ve only ever had TGI Fridays once in Newcastle several years ago and really enjoyed it.
I had chicken fajitas and thought it was reasonable value for money and the service was good.
Judging by the comments here I must have been lucky!
The bubble’s burst, there are just too many American takeaways in the UK now for all of them to prosper without stepping on each other’s toes. Next town over from me is opening another KFC in a historic building when it already has four fried chicken shops and the last KFC shut not long ago, oh and the Burger King is closing down too. It’s ridiculous.
The moment I spot restaurant/chain branded ready meals in the freezer section of the supermarket, I know it’s on its way out.
I used to go to TGI Friday’s all the time, like once a month. It was decent food at a decent price. The last few years it just went completely downhill and the prices practically doubled. I’ve not been in a long time but I won’t really miss it due to there being so many other options out there, which is a shame because I used to love it. As long as they start selling the Jack Daniels glaze in a bottle, I’ll be happy. (No, it isn’t the same as Jack Daniels BBQ sauce, please don’t try telling me that it is the same thing, it isn’t the same thing)
I’m sorry for those who will be losing their jobs, but tbh I’m not at all surprised.
We went to TGIs a couple of weeks ago, half the restaurant was entirely empty, but for some reason they had sat every table next to each other, which was not only weird but irritating because of how cramped and noisy it felt.
Speaking of noise, they had the music on so loud I couldn’t hear the person sat next to me over it.
They then didn’t come and ask for any drink or food order for 15 minutes, which was a bit annoying considering half the staff were just chatting at the bar.
The place was also filthy, sticky tables and chairs, menus covered in sauce and the floor was disgusting.
The menu was pretty weak and the prices were outrageous, I’m sure it was something like £26 for chicken fajitas.
Before the server came back we just got up and left.
It’s all energy policy. We’ve known what we need for 30 years, we’re covered in rivers, we have insane amounts of wind, but we’re also full of nimbys and green energy skeptics who are old and don’t like change, and dislike the idea of a solar farm on their local fields with fck all else in them.
Yes I’m linking the close of TGI Fridays to the price of energy. Yep. Fcking boomers, man.