Catering and bar services at Bolton's Albert Halls, including the Northern restaurant, will no longer be provided by Heathcote and Co when the lockdown restrictions end, Bolton Council has confirmed.
A 10-year contract, agreed between the council and Heathcotes in 2018, has been terminated early with the agreement of both parties.
The business, owned by Bolton-born restaurateur Paul Heathcote, took on the catering and bar services contract with the council before the Covid-19 pandemic hit - and opened the Northern restaurant in summer 2019.
The restaurant was open for six months before it was forced to close because of the first lockdown in March 2020. Due to the continuing restrictions and uncertain future of the hospitality and events industry at the time all Heathcotes catering staff were made redundant in July last year.
A council spokesperson said: "It's with great regret that the council and Heathcotes have mutually agreed to terminate this contract early. When the contract was signed, just over two years ago, we had high hopes for the food and drink offering at Albert Halls and it was a big moment when Paul opened the Northern Restaurant in 2019 during the Bolton Food and Drink festival.
"Sadly, we were only able to enjoy the wonderful food at the Northern for a short period before the lockdown forced its closure.
"The impact of the Covid-19 pandemic on hospitality and events businesses has been severe and we are sorry that Paul has concluded that Heathcotes won't be in a position to pick up where they left off when this lockdown ends. We understand Paul's decision and wish him well for the future. This is very much an amicable parting of the ways.
"Based on the government's roadmap announcement we are anticipating that indoor hospitality, events and entertainment will be able to reopen again by the summer. In order to be ready for this, interim catering arrangements will need to be agreed whilst the council works to identify a longer-term business partner who is willing to make a go of the catering contract and that includes a new restaurant offer to replace the Northern.
“The Albert Halls has great potential, and when we are able to see live theatre audiences return, we're hopeful a high quality catering offer will be a key part of that."
In its recently agreed budget proposals for 2021-2022, Bolton Council has committed to retaining the Albert Halls as a live venue.
Paul Heathcote said: “Like many in our industry it will be17 months without any sales and very little support before we could open fully in an indoor arena. We have sadly decided therefore that we should find a mutually acceptable departure.
“No one could have foreseen the difficulties that the pandemic has created in hospitality.
“I would like to thank everyone for their efforts and contributions in coming to this difficult decision and wish Albert Halls the best of success with its re-opening.”