Le Frog closure due to crunch

A food chain which owns one of Stafford's most popular restaurants has gone into administration, it has emerged.

It has been revealed that Le Frog Bistro – formerly known as Pastiche – on Mill Street suddenly shut its doors last week after parent company Wolfteam Limited got into financial difficulties and placed the Le Frog brand into administration.

Customers of the eatery, which traded as Pastiche for several years until a refurbishment in September, only found out Le Frog had closed after a notice appeared in its window.

As reported in the Express & Star on Saturday, mystery surrounded the sudden move as no explanation was given for the closure.

Manager Abi Brinsdon said trading had ceased in a recorded message on the Mill Street restaurant's telephone number but gave no further explanation.

Now, it has emerged that the Le Frog brand is in the hands of administrators Begbies Traynor. The Stafford branch, together with a newly-opened branch in Lichfield, are not yet formally in administration due to the complex technical make-up of the Le Frog brand, which involves four subsidiary companies.

However, a Begbies Traynor source today said it was expected that the firm would take the two remaining restaurants on officially later in the week. The spokesman added that he could not speculate on details of job losses and the future of the two restaurants until then.

Begbies Traynor has taken on other Le Frog outlets in the north west, including Ormskirk, Wigan, Fulwood, Warrington and St Helens. It has appointed Christie & Co, a licensed property agent, to sell the branches.

Le Frog in Stafford, well-known locally under its former name of Pastiche, re-opened in September after a refurbishment and re-branding.

Neighbouring traders said they thought the bistro was doing well and always seemed busy. Sharon Abel, who owns the Natur House health shop opposite, said: "I don't understand it because it always seems busy, at lunchtimes and in the evenings.

"It closed for a week in September just before the re-launch as Le Frog, and they had a new menu and chef. I was talking to Abi the other day and she said everything was going great." Le Frog prided itself on offering "great British food with a French accent" – a mix of English, French and Mediterranean dishes.