Wed, 04 Feb 2026

Wed, 04 Feb 2026 Restaurant boss 'devastated' at having to close

Bar owner Jobe Ferguson says he is devastated to close TNQ in the Northern Quarter after 22 years.

* A popular Manchester bar and restaurant, TNQ Restaurant & Bar, has closed after 22 years due to rising energy bills, soaring food costs, and increased National Insurance Contributions.
* The owner, Jobe Ferguson, borrowed up to £100,000 and stopped paying himself a salary in an attempt to keep the business afloat.
* Ferguson says he is "devastated" by the decision, citing that his restaurant had survived through past crises including banking collapses, recessions, and Covid.
* Staff were told of the closure on Monday, with some having worked at the restaurant for up to 18 years.
* The government's announcement of a 15% discount on business rates for pubs and music venues has been criticized as insufficient, with Ferguson saying it would only be worth £1,650 for his average pub in 2026-27.
  >>