Sad to see it go.
The US fast food chain TGI Fridays is reported to be in jeopardy after its owners Hostmore suffered a near-total collapse in its share price. As a result its owners have put all of its 87 UK restaurants up for sale.
The chain first came to popularity in Britain in the late 1980s and early ’90s thanks to a surge of interest in American fast food. While McDonald’s had already cemented its presence on the UK’s high streets, the nation’s craving for American cuisine continued to grow.
Among the chains that crossed the pond was TGI Fridays. The restaurant-bars were established in New York in 1965 by Alan Stillman as a celebration of the weekend; the name itself an acronym for ‘Thank God It’s Friday’.
Offering American bistro-style dishes, bar snacks, and a range of alcoholic drinks, the inaugural New York eatery was decked out in the iconic red-and-white striped décor that remains a hallmark of the brand. With its stateside success and the UK’s burgeoning appetite for American dining experiences, the first TGI Fridays opened its doors in Birmingham in 1986.
Following closely behind, a second establishment welcomed patrons in London’s Covent Garden in 1987. By the decade’s close, additional locations had sprung up in Fareham, Reading, and Cardiff.
It wasn’t until the early 1990s that Greater Manchester experienced the buzz of a new bistro, complete with a sparkling side-order of American-style razzmatazz. In December 1990, Greater Manchester welcomed its first TGI Fridays in Cross Street in Sale.
Sad to see it go.
