Regional Aqua group closes three restaurants

By Sophie Witts

- Last updated on GMT

Regional Aqua group closes three restaurants

Related tags Casual dining Restaurant Sussex

The regional Aqua restaurant group closed three of its sites this week.

The company has shut its restaurants in Milton Keynes, Lewes and Worthing, leaving it with four sites remaining in the south west of England.

The Sussex Express​ reports that a sign posted on the door of the Lewes restaurant reads: “It is with regret that we have now closed this restaurant with immediate effect. We thank you all for your loyalty and custom.”

All mention of the closed sites has been removed from Aqua’s website.

Aqua was founded in Bristol in 1998, serving Italian cuisine. It is left with two Bristol restaurants and one each in nearby Portishead, and Bath.

Early last year the group came under fire after reports​ that waiters were required to pay back 3% of their total table sales after each shift, which staff claimed meant they had to effectively 'pay to work'. Aqua's website now says it operates a combined tipping policy, with proceeds shared between the entire restaurant team.

The company is not related to the Hong Kong-based Aqua Restaurant Group, which runs London's high-end Aqua Shard, Aqua Kyoto and Aqua Nueva restaurants.

BigHospitality​ has contacted Aqua for further comment.

Related topics Restaurant Openings Casual Dining

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