A FAMOUS fast-food chain has announced it will be closing all of its branches across the UK.
Britain’s “rudest restaurant” went bust after its parent company, Viral Ventures UK, reportedly racked up over £400,000 worth of debt.
Karen’s Diner, where staff are intentionally rude to customers, went viral in 2022 after a video surfaced of a waiter calling a customer a paedophile in front of his 14-year-old daughter.
It has continued to gain traction on TikTok since then, with some calling its controversial approach “fun” and others claiming they were “body-shamed”.
Celebs from Kerry Katona to Davina McCall have visited the restaurant, where staff hurl insults like “don’t come back” and hand women hats saying “I spent by child support on ‘girls night out’.”
Liquidators Jeremy Frost and Patrick Wadsted confirmed the chain has 77 staff members who will be laid off.
They added it also has 2,500 clients who have paid for events that are “now very unlikely to take place”.
This includes a summer pop up tour, originally scheduled to take place between June and September across the country.
Mr Frost said: “It is always a challenging moment when a business, especially one with the reach of Viral Ventures, is forced into liquidation.
“We understand the disappointment and concern, particularly for those with deposits for upcoming shows.
“Our priority is to guide those affected through this process and ensure the necessary steps are taken.”
The statement comes as angry customers demand their money back for cancelled events.
One woman, who turned up to an event in Plymouth, wrote on Trustpilot: “Got to the venue, and after asking a few members of hotel staff we were told that Karen’s Diner cancelled the event.
“Did they let us know? Of course not.
“Have they offered a refund? Of course not. I will be fighting for my refund now, and taking this further. How is this even allowed?”
Which Karen's Diner branches are closing?
- Barnet
- Birmingham
- Sheffield
- London Angel
- Manchester
The group has set up a dedicated website to support its customers, creditors and employees, and has advised those seeking refunds to contact their banks.
The brand has been plagued with controversy for a while, with people not taking kindly to staff members’ insults.
In response to a TikTok video in which an eight-year-old girl was hit with explicit insults, one user wrote: “Disgusting, joke or no joke that’s not funny.”
Another added: “She’s 8!!!! That’s not banter at that age. Words hurt. Why would any parent let their child be humiliated in that way!”
The news of Karen’s Diner’s closure comes as the company that owns TGI Fridays also goes into administration.
This has put the future of the restaurant chain in doubt, with 87 sites put up for sale.
