Nottingham restaurant Sinatra bows out after 42 years

A Nottingham city centre restaurant that operated for 42 years has closed for good, resulting in 16 job losses.

Sinatra Bar and Restaurant was forced to close for the last time on Monday after it struggled to attract customers in recent months and blamed parking charges throughout the city to blame, reported the http://www.nottinghampost.com/" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer">Nottingham Post.

The restaurant's owner Sandy Butcher said: "A large proportion of what has gone wrong is down to parking. No one wants to come into the city and pay to park and that has had a huge impact on footfall.

"I think there have been some improvements recently, but it is a little too late for us."

Sinatra is not the first restaurant in the Chapel Bar area of Nottingham to close or face financial difficulties. Restaurant and bar Fat Cat went into administration in April, but continues to operate.

The Tonic bar and restaurant closed in August 2012, but is set to reopen this Friday as a restaurant called Caribbean Dream. It has taken on five members of staff from Sinatra.

A spokesperson for Nottingham City Council said the city has a very competitive bar and restaurant sector and that no one takes pleasure in seeing an established business close.

"We are working very hard with businesses and with the Nottingham Business Improvement District to make Nottingham's offer competitive and attract people to the city.

"Just this weekend The Observer Food Monthly Awards gave runner up positions to Sat Bains, Memsaab and Iberico World Tapas in Nottingham proving we have a fantastic restaurant sector in the city," the spokesperson said.

"We would also point out that restaurants do most of their trade in the evenings when we have a low flat-rate on street parking fee."