‘Devastated’ owner Jobe Ferguson blames skyrocketing energy bills and tax hikes for the death of the Northern Quarter institution, leaving staff and patrons heartbroken.

Another light has gone out in Manchester’s Northern Quarter. TNQ Restaurant & Bar, a culinary staple for 22 years, has shut its doors, a victim of the brutal economic climate decimating the UK’s hospitality sector. Owner Jobe Ferguson, who poured his soul and savings into the venue, described himself as "devastated" as he announced the closure. The restaurant, where he met his wife and built a life, is no more.

The reasons are as familiar as they are infuriating. Ferguson revealed that energy bills had ballooned to an eye-watering £8,000 a month. Coupled with soaring food costs and the recent hike in National Insurance contributions, the business model simply collapsed. "I can't make it work anymore," he admitted, a refrain being heard in kitchens across the country.

A Fight for Survival

TNQ was a survivor. It weathered the banking crisis, double-dip recessions, and the ravages of Covid-19. Ferguson had even stopped paying himself a salary and borrowed £100,000 in a desperate bid to keep the ship afloat. But the combination of policy decisions and corporate greed proved to be the final nail.

• The Human Cost: Staff members, some of whom had served at TNQ for 18 years, were given the news on Monday. They are not just employees; they are casualties of a system that is failing independent businesses.
• The Plea: "Small independent businesses should be looked after, not absolutely decimated," Ferguson argued, directing his anger at policymakers and energy giants.

The End of an Era

For the regulars who loved its "real neighborhood" vibe, the closure is a tragedy. TNQ was more than a restaurant; it was a community hub. Its demise is a stark warning that without urgent intervention, our high streets will soon be ghost towns.

As the shutters come down on TNQ for the last time, Manchester has lost a piece of its heart, and Jobe Ferguson has lost his life’s work. The question is: who is next?