Kent branches of top chain restaurants will close after administrators were called in.

Casual Dining Group, which owns Bella Italia and Café Rouge, has said 1,900 jobs will be lost nationwide following financial hardship caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

Bella Italia currently has sites in and around Kent including those Hempstead Valley, Broadstairs, Bluewater and Orpington. The branch in Bexleyheath will close

Only Bluewater will hold on to Cafe Rouge after it was announced Canterbury, Maidstone and Bromley will all shut their doors for good.

Casual Dining Group has however said that 4,050 employees will be retaining their jobs and more than half of its restaurants will continue to operate following the lockdown.

Chief executive James Spragg told the Press Association: “After reviewing all our options with advisers, it became clear that we needed to take this action in order to protect the business and secure the best possible future for Casual Dining Group as we look to conclude a potential sale.

“We are acutely aware of our duty to all employees and recognise that this is an incredibly difficult time for them.

"Working alongside the administrators we will do everything we can to support them through this process with a view to preserving as much employment as we are able to.”

Head to our business page for all of the latest news about businesses in Kent.

Read more: All the latest news from Kent