The Harvester in Lubbesthorpe Way, at Meridian Leisure Park, will close permanently on April 24 after 15 years, with Mitchells and Butlers seeking to redeploy staff to nearby sites
A Leicestershire eatery favourite has confirmed it will shut its doors permanently following 15 years of trading.
The Harvester on Lubbesthorpe Way, situated at Meridian Leisure Park, has revealed it will cease operations permanently after final service on Friday, April 24. Mitchells and Butlers, the company behind the restaurant chain, stated the venue is shutting following “careful consideration” and as part of their “continual review of our estate”.
The owners revealed they are currently in discussions with staff at the Meridian Park location, hoping to relocate “as many employees as possible” to neighbouring establishments, including branches in Loughborough and Nuneaton.
A Harvester spokesman commented: “Sadly, we can confirm the Harvester Meridian Park will close following service on April 24th, 2026, after 15 years serving the people of Leicestershire.”, reports Leicestershire Live.
“There is still just over a week for locals to enjoy Meridian Park and we look forward to bringing our famous salad bar and fresh rotisserie back once we’ve identified the right site.
“In the meantime, it’s only a short drive for our loyal guests to enjoy Harvester Nuneaton or our recently refurbished Harvester Loughborough.
“We’d like to thank our loyal guests and the brilliant team at Meridian Park for their support over the past 15 years.”
Responding to the closure announcement, former patrons of the Meridian Park establishment commented: “Sad to hear about the staff losing their jobs, the service was always great!” Another commenter lamented: “It’s a shame because we’ve lost a lot of eateries around here and Harvester has quite a varied menu.
“I used to love the salad bar and it was conveniently located for a great family day out at Meridian.”
An Italian bar and restaurant chain has plunged into administration after being battered by soaring costs.
Since launching back in 2013, Veeno Bars built a reputation serving up authentic Italian food and drinks across major UK cities. But now, in a dramatic twist, the company has appointed administrators in a desperate bid to stay afloat.
Bosses called in help on April 8 to stop the business going under completely. Founder Nino Caruso told The Sun: “Like many businesses in the UK casual dining sector, we have faced a combination of well-documented market pressures in recent years, including rising operating costs and challenges within the property landscape.
“This process allows us to address those factors, realign the business, and ensure a more sustainable foundation for the future.”
The company was set up 13 years ago by Italian entrepreneurs Nino Caruso and Andrea Zecchino, bringing a taste of Sicily to the UK high street.
Famous for its wines produced at the founders’ own family vineyard in Sicily, Veeno carved out a niche with its unique selection for customers. Over the years, the chain expanded to cities including Bristol, Durham, Edinburgh, Leeds and Leicester – even opening a site in Wroclaw, Poland.
But trouble has been brewing. The company has already shut two locations, with its Manchester branch closing in August 2022 and its Chester site going under in February this year.
Now, with administrators stepping in, the future hangs in the balance. Administrators are brought in to protect struggling firms from collapse and try to restructure them to survive – but there are no guarantees.