Loch Fyne Restaurants Explained

Loch Fyne Seafood & Grill
Type:Seafood restaurants
Predecessor:Loch Fyne Oysters
Successor:Greene King
Location Country:United Kingdom

Loch Fyne Restaurants was the name of a chain of seafood restaurants in the United Kingdom owned and operated by Greene King plc.

History

The company took its name from Loch Fyne, a sea loch on the west coast of Scotland. The business started life as part of Loch Fyne Oysters but, in September 2006, the restaurant chain (then comprising 36 restaurants[1]) was bought by Greene King for £68 million.[2]

Loch Fyne Oysters continues in business under separate ownership; it owns the "Loch Fyne" brand and supplied much of the seafood used by the restaurant chain.[3]

In 2008 Loch Fyne Restaurants was reported by the BBC to be paying their waiting staff a base salary below the minimum wage made up to legal levels by tips.[4]

At its largest, the chain had over 40 restaurants. Some had already closed by 2020, and due to the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020, Loch Fyne permanently closed 11 more restaurants,[5] with further closures following and the last restaurants closing in November 2023.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 2023-11-27 . Loch Fyne 'no longer a core part' of Greene King . 2024-02-07 . The Caterer . en.
  2. Web site: Greene King buys fish chain Loch Fyne for 68 mln stg . . 2007-08-07 . 2008-02-12.
  3. Web site: Loch Fyne Oysters and Restaurants - History . Loch Fyne Oysters . 2017-04-05.
  4. Web site: Loch Fyne wages "below minimum" . BBC News . 2008-07-26 . 2008-07-24.
  5. Web site: Greene King closures: why the chain is closing 79 pubs and restaurants - including 11 Loch Fyne venues. scotsman.com. 2020-10-08. 2021-07-23.