KFC & Meatcure Close Down

There is a further blow to Market Harborough town centre with the closure of KFC and the Meatcure restaurant, which has resulted in around 15 job losses.

Owners of Meatcure on Abbey Street are blaming rent and business rate increases and a fall in customers for their decision to shut.

In a statement they said: “We gave everything and invested every penny we had into making Meatcure the exceptional restaurant that we all loved so very much.

“But unfortunately with excessive rents and rates, and rising costs and fewer people spending than ever before, and with no money behind us to give Meatcure the regeneration we believe it needed to stay current, we can no longer continue.”

“We’ve battled for the past few weeks with our family and friends and our amazing staff beside us to exhaust all opportunities, ideas and paths but in all our time is done.

“We’re heart-broken if we are honest and even more so knowing that you guys will be too.”

The independent burger restaurant was saved in 2017 when staff members bought the business after it collapsed into administration.

KFC isn’t renewing the lease of its premises next to the Market Hall in St Mary’s Place, where it has traded from for over 15 years.

A spokesperson said: “We’ve had a great run in Market Harborough, but unfortunately we’ve had to close the restaurant due to our lease coming to an end. All our team members at the restaurant have been offered new roles in the surrounding area. We are currently on the lookout for another location, so fingers crossed our fans won’t have to wait too long!”

The closures follow the announcement last week Thomas Cook is shutting its travel agents in town.