DORSET’S branches of Prezzo have escaped the latest round of closures.

A total of 22 restaurants across the country will not reopen their doors when the coronavirus restrictions end.

All the chain’s 178 restaurants are currently closed to customers because of the latest lockdown.

Prezzo has two branches in Bournemouth town centre – in BH2 complex and in Westover Road - as well as Christchurch, Wimborne and Ringwood.

The chain was sold to Cain as a going concern last December by previous private equity owner TPG.

The value of the sale was not disclosed but came six years after TPG bought the chain for more than £300million.

Speaking earlier this month, Jonathan Goldstein, chief executive of Cain, said: “We firmly believe that strong hospitality businesses, such as Prezzo, have a bright future and will play an essential role in reviving the UK economy.

“However, to do so, we must get through this current crisis of mounting liabilities and no revenues.

“The lack of visibility on when and how the sector will reopen has heightened economic uncertainty to the point where decisive action had to be taken to secure the future of the business and the majority of jobs for Prezzo’s people.

“We are deeply sorry for all those affected by the permanent closure of the 22 non-viable restaurants.

“It was a difficult, but essential, decision to take but doing so will allow us to save thousands of jobs and create more in the future.”