The owner of Bangin’ Burgers, an Aberdeen burger joint set to shut this weekend, has warned of more restaurant closures ahead.
Chris Holden said today Bangin’ Burgers will serve its final meal on Sunday March 13. The takeaway and sit-in diner, based out of The Lounge Bar and Kitchen on Market Street, opened just eight months ago.
The Lounge Bar and Kitchen will remain open.
Chris blamed a combination of factors for the closure, including a near doubling of the price of mince. Rising energy costs and customers having less money in their pockets also affected the decision.
But the businessman had a warning for the city’s hospitality industry, which has seen its recovery from multiple pandemic lockdowns and strict coronavirus hygiene rules frustrated by inflation.
“The cost of living is going up, the price of energy is going up,” Chris said.
“People are going to have to make sacrifices and if it was me my first sacrifice would be things I don’t need, like takeaways.
“I think a lot of [businesses] are going to struggle. Hopefully they have better things in place than we do to help them get through it.”
Leave on a high note
The former waiter plans to take a break from hospitality after the weekend but said he hopes to leave on a high.
“Our last day is Sunday, so hopefully we will get a good last weekend to see us out,” he added.
Bangin’ Burgers announced it would shut in a Facebook post today that said: “It is with a heavy heart and deep sadness that we have decided to call time on our Bangin’ Burgers adventure.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank every single one of our customers for making our dreams come true. From the regulars to the single time customers, you have really kept us going and we have loved all of the amazing messages, reviews and comments over the last 8 months.”
Cost of inflation
According to Holden, supplier costs have risen sharply since he opened the kitchen in August last year. The price of a kilo of mince was up from £3 to more than £5.
“Trying to start a business in the pandemic has not been easy,” he said.
