Former Little Chef owner to buy East Mids shopping mall restaurants

The former owner of the Little Chef is set to take over a chain of 1950s-style US diners which has outlets in Derby, Leicester and Nottingham.

According to reports, R Capital will complete a deal today (10 October) to buy Ed’s Easy Diner, which has restaurants in Intu Derby and Victoria Centre in Nottingham, as well as the Highcross mall in Leicester.

Ed’s started in London in the late 1980s and is privately owned. It has been struggling lately after over-expansion and a slump in trade.

R Capital famously turned-around the flagging Little Chef brand after buying it in 2007.

The news comes after Joe’s Diner in the newly-revamped food hall in Intu’s Victoria Centre has closed less than a year after opening after owner The Restaurant Group said it was to shut down “underperforming” sites.