Hawksmoor temporarily shuts all doors

Owners Will Beckett and Huw Gott made the announcement yesterday in respect of public health and their responsibilities to protect the elderly and vulnerable.

While the Government has not forced the industry to close its doors, the duo felt this was what the Government was advising.

In their statement, the owners said: “This enables us to make sure that Hawksmoor survives – not because of money or profit but in order for the thing that we have all spent much of our professional lives building, can go back to being a place where we can look after as many staff and customers as possible for years to come.

The company also announced it had to end the employment of some of its “wonderful” staff.

It explained how it had tried to treat them as “fairly as possible”, paying full notice and giving guidance on future support during these uncertain times.

Desperately need

The owners added: “We have also told them that what has happened today doesn’t prevent them in any way from being part of the company again in the future and we will stay in touch with them to offer any support and information we can.

“We have made these difficult decisions in order to do what we can to protect the jobs of the hundreds of people we still employ during what may be a prolonged period of closure.

“This is, of course, tragic and incredibly difficult for everyone. However, Hawksmoor will survive and we will quickly turn our attention to how we get through this period and what we can do to lend our strength to others who may need it.

“We hope that the Government steps in as promised to provide the safety net that so many people desperately need.”