The Manchester branch of Karen's Diner - famed for purposely being rude to customers - has closed suddenly.
A spokesperson for the Australian chain said its focus will now shift to 'pop up' events. The closure comes just months after the lease for the restaurant, which opened in Prestwich in 2022, was prompting questions about its future. In March the owner of the restaurant insisted the company had 'no intention' of closing its Bury New Road branch and a spokesperson for Karen's Diner said its lease has been renewed after a listing had appeared on Rightmove.
The team stated at the time: "We are grateful for the opportunity to state that we have no intention of closing our restaurant in Prestwich Manchester. Our original tenancy agreement terminated at the end of last year and was quickly renewed to ensure continuity."
The restaurant chain is famous for its rude staff (Manchester Evening News)However, it seems that the UK operation now has a new focus - 'pop up' events rather than traditional restaurants. A spokesperson said: "As it stands the initial licence agreement has come to an end and our head office wants the UK operation to concentrate on 'pop up' events rather than restaurants. In the current climate reluctantly we can understand their decision.
"When the business opened in Prestwich critics said that is was "far too far out the way" and we want to thank the 100,000 + customers that have proved them wrong. The group is undergoing a reconstruction which will see the brand appearing in its pop up form all over Britain. Our admin team will ensure that customers with bookings will be informed of next steps."
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Last year, several of Karen Diner's original Australian outlets went into liquidation, reports the Manchester Evening News. Outlets in Surfers Paradise, Perth and Melbourne closed their doors in summer 2023, while branches in Adelaide, Brisbane and Sydney stayed serving. The statement at the time went on to say that the UK restaurants, including the branch in Prestwich, will continue to operate independently, with plans for new branches in Europe too.
Inside Karen's Diner on Bury New Road in Prestwich, Manchester (Manchester Evening News)The Prestwich branch has attracted controversy since opening two years ago. Back in March police were called to the restaurant to 'monitor' protestors who gathered outside ahead of an appearance by controversial former Apprentice contestant turned far-right commentator Katie Hopkins.
Protests held placards which read 'Stamp out Islamophobia' while other posters read 'Stop the far right'. Another poster held by a protester said 'anti-fascist mum gang'. Demonstrators chanted 'down with Karen's in Prestwich' and '2, 4, 6, 8, no to racism, no to Kate'.
In response a spokesperson for Karen's Diner said: "We do accept that Katie Hopkins is an acquired taste that not everyone has acquired. Rather than protesting and wasting valuable police time, a call to us would have informed them that Katie was about to be in for the sort of roasting that only the world's rudest diner could dish out, no restaurant pun intended."
"To be blunt for once she got more than a taste of her own medicine. This was probably a 'Once in a lifetime experience,' that is for her rather than us!"
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