A POPULAR city restaurant is closing down with staff set to lose their jobs.

Staff at Bill’s in the Crowngate Shopping Centre have been told the restaurant is to close within the next month after the coronavirus crisis impacted the chain’s income.

City MP Robin Walker said he was sad to hear Bill’s is closing, and that he hoped all the affected staff could find work soon.

He said: “I am very sorry to hear the news. I know it has been a hugely difficult period for the hospitality industry and we are trying as a government to do everything we can to support the industry with initiatives such as the Eat Out to Help Out scheme and the furlough scheme.

“We obviously want businesses to keep staff but there are sadly a number of businesses who can’t keep going and we need to make sure the support is in place for all the staff who might lose their jobs.”

READ MORE: Worcester Raiders bought by the owners of Worcester Warriors

A post widely shared on social media said the restaurant, which was given permission to move into Crowngate in 2013, would not be re-opening following the end of the coronavirus crisis.

Mr Walker added: “Any loss of jobs is a worry and one thing that will help is the city’s bid for Future High Streets funding which will hopefully bring in footfall to that part of Worcester and revitalise parts of the city like Angel Place.

“I absolutely encourage any other hospitality businesses in the city who might be hiring to look into employing staff from Bills if they are looking for experienced staff.

“I’ve eaten there myself in the past so it will be sad to see it go.”

A Crowngate spokesman said: “This is a challenging time for many restaurants and unfortunately Bill’s has taken the decision to close its restaurant at the Crowngate shopping centre.

“We will continue to offer our support and assistance wherever possible.”

READ MORE: Worcester Bosch donates £30,000 to the Alzheimer's Society

A Bill’s spokesman was unavailable for comment.

On August 30, the government announced furloughed workers who go on to lose their jobs will get redundancy pay based on their normal wage.

Business Secretary Alok Sharma said the government has been asking firms to pay anyone they make redundant based on their normal wage.

Elsewhere, TUI is set to close nearly a third of its high street stores in an attempt to cut costs and shift the focus to online sales.

It plans to move 70 percent of the 900 affected jobs to a new “home-working sales and service team.” TUI also aims to relocate staff to vacancies in the remaining 350 retail stores. The stores due to close have not been named yet.

The Harveys Furniture branch in Blackpole Retail Park is also closing down. Signs there announce the closure.