Wood Restaurant in Manchester Closes Amid Mounting Economic Pressures

Wood Manchester, a fixture in the city’s dining scene for seven years, has closed its doors for good, citing the challenging economic climate as the primary cause. The restaurant’s owner, Simon Wood, a former winner of Masterchef in 2015, shared the news on Instagram highlighting the financial difficulties that have made it impossible for the business to continue.

Wood said that the decision to close came in light of “COVID rent arrears now being demanded by our landlord and an increasingly difficult marketplace.” Rising energy costs, ingredient price hikes, and the looming increase in business rates compounded the struggle.

Like many independent restaurants, Wood Manchester has been hit hard by the post-pandemic economic landscape. Many businesses are now facing repayment of COVID recovery loans, rent backlogs, and spiralling operational costs, leaving them in unsustainable positions. For Wood Manchester, the strain became too much to bear.

As small businesses across the UK grapple with inflation and mounting overheads, this closure marks another casualty of the turbulent times. Simon Wood expressed gratitude to his customers, suppliers, and staff, stating, “I’m very proud of what the team and I have achieved. Thank you for your support and patronage over the years.”

The closure is a sobering reminder of the ongoing economic challenges for independent businesses in the hospitality sector, many of whom are still recovering from the impact of the pandemic.