£20 for a burger in this economy is scandalous, ripperonis.
UK_username on
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.Â
Lidl_Security_Guard on
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.
High-Tom-Titty on
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.
bonbonron on
Oh no! Anyways …
(Sympathies for the workers though)
sbos_ on
Not surprised. My last visit ended up with food poisoning. Also they are so overpriced I
Lo_jak on
Damn, that Jack Daniels sauce they put on the chicken strips was epic ! I wish I could buy that bottled…..
Aggravating-Bread860 on
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.
DilkingtonKarl on
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.
MrVillainsDayOff on
Good. Can we get rid of the rest of the overpriced american chain “restaurants” as well, please?
RaymondBumcheese on
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.
dvb70 on
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.
Striking-Passage-752 on
I only ate there on expenses, and even then resented their prices!
Wil420b on
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.
Proper-Size on
They had gotten proper stingy with the portion sizes last time I went. Went in hungry and left still hungry.
Luke11enzo on
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.
SoulParamedic on
Not surprised as it was truly awful. Best TGI I ever experienced was not even in the UK or US.Â
MelodicPreparation93 on
Sucks for people losing tbeir jobs. But gosh the brand sucks and really won’t be missed by anyone.
CraftyAttitude1321 on
Not surprised to see Solihull on that list, been a dying town for years.
Physical_Amount_3349 on
Went to the o2 one 2 weeks ago, absolutely everything about it was disgusting, got a full refund, First time had ever been to one, won’t be mourning the loss !
schtickshift on
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.
Sloth-v-Sloth on
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.
MoodyBernoulli on
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!
Current_Ad_8567 on
Another over priced shit food establishment down the drain… who would of thought
Flat-Struggle-155 on
good! this chain was beyond terrible – awful food and yet expensive. let the dominos fall!
Electronic_Charity76 on
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.
S-Twenty on
Good riddance. Mediocre chain restaurants were such a British thing to put up with, at least in the states these places give big portion sizes and cheap drinks (Chilli’s, TGIF, etc). Here it felt like they were just trying to milk you for cash, while serving frozen food and crap drinks at premium prices, hoping you wouldn’t notice it was shit.
iketoure on
I remember I used to go with my mate when we saw each other while we were going to uni in different places. Went recently and it was much worse quality and more expensive, what’s the point
Cumulus-Crafts on
The Aberdeen Union Square one has always been packed when I’ve went past
ConsistentOcelot2851 on
Everything in this country is either going into administration, being gobbled by a private-equity firm, or laying off staff left and right.
When will it end?
IsOverParty on
Service is terrible. I’ve gone there three times and it takes 30 minutes to place an order and upwards of an hour on two of the occasions to just pay the bill. Staff just didn’t want to do it, they’d say sure—then walk off.
Why would I pay £20 for a burger and chips with that level of service? Not to mention the portion sizes are dire.
Seems like poor management and cost cutting got in the way.
mumwifealcoholic on
Their food is awful.
I can do frozen chips at home.
We’ve all but given up on going out to eat.
ChangingMyLife849 on
Who gives a shit? Overpriced, ultra processed shit that can’t pass for food. The less of these places there are the better.
Gibs960 on
This really doesn’t surprise me.
The last time I went to a T.G.I Fridays, it was empty, the service was slow, and the food arrived cold. It’s not cheap either.
Imaginary-Arm7053 on
No surprise, asked my partner who was in five guys with his friends to get me a hotdog home. £12 bloody quid for a hotdog that was not even the size of a normal hotdog but rather small ðŸ«
Maybe lower your prices and offer some fucking deals
gazspro on
Not shocked, the last time I went we ended up walking out due to poor menu slow service.
leobeer on
I loved TGIs. The Long Island’s were great and the deep fried potato skins were fab. Not been to one for well over a decade so sad to hear they’ve given up.
DarlesChance on
I know prices have gone up everywhere but it really felt like they shot up at TGIs. I used to enjoy going but it’s difficult to enjoy something when you feel like you are being ripped off.
XenorVernix on
I liked TGI Fridays but it was just too expensive for what you get so it was a rare treat.
Dangerous_Dac on
I haven’t been there since early after the return from COVID I went and they had slashed their menu to a fraction of the items they originally had. Plus the price increase = bye bye TGIs.
bonbonron on
The moment I spot restaurant/chain branded ready meals in the freezer section of the supermarket, I know it’s on its way out.
44 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.Â
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.Â
Sucks for people losing tbeir jobs. But gosh the brand sucks and really won’t be missed by anyone.
Not surprised to see Solihull on that list, been a dying town for years.
Went to the o2 one 2 weeks ago, absolutely everything about it was disgusting, got a full refund, First time had ever been to one, won’t be mourning the loss !
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!
Another over priced shit food establishment down the drain… who would of thought
good! this chain was beyond terrible – awful food and yet expensive. let the dominos fall!
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.
Good riddance. Mediocre chain restaurants were such a British thing to put up with, at least in the states these places give big portion sizes and cheap drinks (Chilli’s, TGIF, etc). Here it felt like they were just trying to milk you for cash, while serving frozen food and crap drinks at premium prices, hoping you wouldn’t notice it was shit.
I remember I used to go with my mate when we saw each other while we were going to uni in different places. Went recently and it was much worse quality and more expensive, what’s the point
The Aberdeen Union Square one has always been packed when I’ve went past
Everything in this country is either going into administration, being gobbled by a private-equity firm, or laying off staff left and right.
When will it end?
Service is terrible. I’ve gone there three times and it takes 30 minutes to place an order and upwards of an hour on two of the occasions to just pay the bill. Staff just didn’t want to do it, they’d say sure—then walk off.
Why would I pay £20 for a burger and chips with that level of service? Not to mention the portion sizes are dire.
Seems like poor management and cost cutting got in the way.
Their food is awful.
I can do frozen chips at home.
We’ve all but given up on going out to eat.
Who gives a shit? Overpriced, ultra processed shit that can’t pass for food. The less of these places there are the better.
This really doesn’t surprise me.
The last time I went to a T.G.I Fridays, it was empty, the service was slow, and the food arrived cold. It’s not cheap either.
No surprise, asked my partner who was in five guys with his friends to get me a hotdog home. £12 bloody quid for a hotdog that was not even the size of a normal hotdog but rather small ðŸ«
Shit food, shit service, shit price. Hardly surprising
Maybe lower your prices and offer some fucking deals
Not shocked, the last time I went we ended up walking out due to poor menu slow service.
I loved TGIs. The Long Island’s were great and the deep fried potato skins were fab. Not been to one for well over a decade so sad to hear they’ve given up.
I know prices have gone up everywhere but it really felt like they shot up at TGIs. I used to enjoy going but it’s difficult to enjoy something when you feel like you are being ripped off.
I liked TGI Fridays but it was just too expensive for what you get so it was a rare treat.
I haven’t been there since early after the return from COVID I went and they had slashed their menu to a fraction of the items they originally had. Plus the price increase = bye bye TGIs.
The moment I spot restaurant/chain branded ready meals in the freezer section of the supermarket, I know it’s on its way out.