Popular restaurant chain with over 50 locations closes fan favourite for good after 8 years leaving diners devastated

A POPULAR Caribbean restaurant has closed one of its long-standing branches for good after eight years of trading, leaving fans gutted.

Turtle Bay has shut its site, which first opened in 2017 in the town's Cathedral Quarter.

A message on the company’s website reads: “Turtle Bay Blackburn has served up its last round of jerk chicken and rum cocktails.”

A spokesperson added: “Thank you for the good times, Blackburn.

The good times aren’t over though – you can still find us bringing the island spirit in other Turtle Bay restaurants across the UK.”

The closure means fans in the area will now have to travel to Preston or Blackpool to get their Turtle Bay fix, as there are no other branches in East .

The chain has more than 50 restaurants across the country.

Locals took to social media to share their disappointment. One said: “What a shame, if these big companies can’t survive, what hope is there for small businesses?”

Another added: “Always had a good time there. Gutted to see it go.”

Local eatery Calypso Restaurant commented on the closure, saying: “It’s a bittersweet day in the restaurant business as Turtle Bay shuts its doors. But don’t worry, we’ve got you covered!

“Come join us at Calypso, where we’ve been serving up mouthwatering jerk chicken for over 15 amazing years.”

Turtle Bay had wowed visitors with its vibrant beach hut-style decor and Caribbean-themed menu.

From reggae beats to bottomless brunches, it had become a firm favourite for diners in the area.

The Blackburn branch had previously closed during the pandemic, reopening in September 2021, but it has now closed permanently.

Turtle Bay has been approached for comment on the closure.

The hospitality industry has faced mounting pressure in recent years, including recovering from the pandemic, rising living costs, inflation, and sky-high energy bills.

These factors have made it tough for many restaurants to stay afloat.

Craig Rachel, director at financial advisory firm AlixPartners, said: “Restaurants have seen the accumulation of external pressures in 2024, including rising utility costs, food prices and labour costs.”

He added: “Although some of these factors have stabilised over recent months, the overall impact is significant and will be exacerbated again in 2025 following the budget announcements, and this has all affected profitability.

“Some restaurant groups have been able to mitigate this to a certain extent through operational efficiencies and pricing, but consumer spending in the sector is under pressure, meaning price measures are often unable to fully bridge the gap.”