A RESTAURANT in Braintree is at risk after the firm behind the chain revealed plans to shut several sites as part of a major restructuring.

Tasty, which runs the Wildwood chain as well as sites under the Dim T brand, has said it plans to exit around 20 loss-making restaurants after a “challenging” start to the year.

The restructuring plan would see the group shut 18 of these restaurants, with two of these sites already closed to customers.

It has not disclosed the locations of the sites earmarked for closure.

Tasty currently has 43 Wildwood restaurants in operation, six Dim-T pan-Asian restaurants, two non-trading sites and three sub-let venues.

One of the sites is in Braintree, at the Braintree Village site.

Other sites across the county include Chelmsford, Billericay, Brentwood and Epping.

Braintree and Witham Times: Wildwood restaurant chain owner Tasty has revealed closure plans as part of a major restructuring moveWildwood restaurant chain owner Tasty has revealed closure plans as part of a major restructuring move (Image: Google/PA/Wildwood)

On Tuesday, the hospitality group said its financial performance “continues to be inhibited by a tail of underperforming sites, despite efforts at improving operational performance”.

The company added: “The use of a restructuring plan is considered the most effective means to reorganise the group to return it to profitability and secure its long-term future which should change the financial viability, profitability profile and long-term prospects of the group.”

It will also enter into a new £750,000 loan agreement with Bet365 shareholder Will Roseff in order to fund the restructuring.

Tasty’s bosses said they expect the plan will improve earnings by up to £2.1 million by the 2025 financial year, particularly through the restaurant closures and other cost savings.

The group said it expects to operate about 30 restaurants by the end of the current year.

The proposals are to be circulated to Tasty’s creditors before a court hearing expected later this month.

On Tuesday, Tasty added that it expects to confirm revenues of around £46.9 million for 2023, up from £44 million in 2022.

It has also trimmed its earnings loss to £900,000 last year from a £2.7 million loss a year earlier.

The group has made “reasonable progress” so far this year “despite difficult recent trading conditions”.