Yo! Sushi restaurant in Whiteley to close permanently, company confirms
A POPULAR sushi restaurant in a shopping village will be permanently closed, it has been announced.
Yo! Sushi in Whiteley is one of 19 restaurants being axed by its parent company, at the cost of 250 jobs.
The coronavirus pandemic and ‘changes in consumer behaviour’ have been cited as reasons for the closure, with rent payments becoming unsustainable for the firm.
The chain has launched a company voluntary arrangement (CVA) to close the Whiteley venue, which was a loss-making site for the company.
Chief executive officer Richard Hodgson said: ‘Like the rest of the sector, we need to take decisive action to adapt to the lasting changes that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought about.
‘While we have already taken measures to reduce costs, rents remain an issue. In the current climate, it’s just not viable for us to keep any sites that no longer perform.
‘While it’s been a very difficult decision to make and I am very sorry that it will mean losing many of our team members, a CVA has become an essential measure to secure our business for the future, and enable us to protect as many jobs as possible.’
Inside Yo! Sushi restaurants, food is brought to customers in bowls via a conveyor belt, which loops around the restaurant – with different coloured bowls indicating different prices.
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Guests can also ask for certain dishes to be made for them.
The nearest venues for sushi-lovers to get their fix are at West Quay in Southampton, and in Brighton.