Readers marked the shock closure of The Botanist in Coventry ‘a real shame’, describing the place as a ‘beautiful upmarket restaurant’. However, some said that the closures will get a lot worse’ and the city centre ‘will be deserted very quickly’.
The Coventry establishment closed on Monday, January 6, with ‘immediate effect’ after being in the city for six years. The building is currently listed on Rightmove for a yearly lease fee of £150,000, with staff said to have been ‘unaware’ of the situation.
Owners New World Trading Company (NWTC) launched a CVA (company voluntary agreement), which was approved by 95% of responding creditors. It allows businesses who were struggling to pay off their debts over a certain period. As a result of this, the ‘non-profitable’ sites had to close, including The Botanist in Broadgate.
Read more: Shock as award-winning Coventry eatery The Botanist suddenly closes as staff ‘unaware’
NWTC said that site teams were made aware of the closures ‘as soon as possible’ once the CVA was concluded, with meetings conducted in person at the site, online meetings, and telephone calls. They added that they are working to relocate team members from non-profitable sites into neighbouring venues and support staff for whom this may not be suitable.
NTWC added that the decision does not affect the neighbouring venues in Birmingham on Temple Street and Gas Street Basin but does close the restaurants in North Light in Chester and Sheffield. The company has opened new locations under the Botanist brand in Sunderland, Edinburgh, and Barnsley and will open a Botanist in Bournemouth in May 2025.
Readers took to the CoventryLive Facebook page to share their views on The Botanist’s sudden closure of Cathedral Lanes on Broadgate in Coventry.
Gillian Lovett said: “Such a shame. It is a fascinating, beautiful, upmarket restaurant right in the city centre, but sadly underused.”
Robbie Watson said, “I was there with my wife on Saturday afternoon for a nice meal. The staff and service were first-class. It’s such a shame to be treated like this.”
Anne Murray said, “How could staff not be aware? How is that allowed to happen? It’s a disgrace and disgusting and should never be allowed to happen. There are no feelings of decency to staff.”
However, others say it was ‘inevitable’. One reader commented: “It won’t be the last small and medium-sized businesses in Coventry to cease trading. The overheads from Coventry City Council are excessive and putting too much pressure on traders.”
Markos1975 said: “It’s going to get a lot worse, a hell of a lot worse. The city centre will be deserted very quickly, trust me.”
CovKidDare said, “So with the lease and service charge alone, that’s nearly £200k/year. Then you’ve got energy, staffing, etc. That’s a lot of coverage needed just to cover costs.”
What are your thoughts of the sudden closure of The Botanist? Let us know in the comments below.