The last remaining Boujee restaurant and bar has closed down in Cheshire - bringing to an end the all-pink dining empire that had already closed its sites in Manchester and Liverpool. Chester's much-talked about Boujee had remained open after the closure of its sister venues in October when administrators were appointed, after being sold in a "pre-pack deal".
But the all-pink bar on Pepper Street has now closed down. Our sister site Cheshire Live has reported that Boujee shut for good on January 18 following what staff described as a lengthy "uphill battle" in which the business faced "numerous constant hurdles".
The venue's controversial retractable canopy had been dismantled last week, and the doors were shut to guests. Several attempts were made to speak to the venue over the phone but the line cut out each time after ringing for a brief period, and its google listing now says: "permanently closed".
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Since then, the MEN has seen two emails sent to staff confirming the permanent closure of the site after less than 18 months. The first email - issued on January 10 - makes reference to the reasons behind the "tough decision" to cease trading.
It states that "chefs walking out, increasing costs, lack of customers/bookings" all contributed to the venue's plight. The email said: "January is always a very tough time for hospitality however as we all know it has been an uphill battle with Boujee for a very long time."
A second email sent out on January 18 confirmed that "earlier than expected" the venue was to permanently shut that day, having originally planned to cease trading on January 21.
The closure of the all-pink premises, which the chain described as 'Instagram heaven', comes after the business was sold in a pre-pack deal following the appointment of administrators back in October last year. At the time the Liverpool and Manchester sites closed for good.
The Chester venue first opened its doors in November 2021 amid a blaze of publicity. Not long after the launch, it came under fire from both neighbouring venue Opera Grill and Cheshire West and Chester Council after erecting its all-pink canopy without planning permission.
It was labelled as "visually and physically overbearing" by a planning officer, who rejected the application, adding that it created "a chaotic visual experience". To add to the venue's woes, a separate application for illuminated and non-illuminated signage at the premises was also refused.
Boujee lodged an appeal against the decisions, and in March repainted the exterior of the canopy grey after feedback "suggested that a more neutral colour rather than the pink would be more appropriate". The appeal over the canopy was rejected in August last year meaning the structure had to come down. However, the appeal over the signage was allowed.
The Boujee brand first blasted onto the regional food and drink scene with its vast Liverpool ONE site in August 2020. Backed by Real Housewives of Cheshire star Lystra Adams who became the "face" of the brand, a second site was to follow in the former Freemasons Hall on Bridge Street in May 2021.
The bars also featured on the Real Housewives of Cheshire ITVBe show, as Lystra proudly showed her star pals around the venues, and a number of scenes were filmed inside the Manchester venue. Lystra resigned as a director in September, a month before the restaurant's closure.
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