A beloved British chain has suddenly closed a popular Essex high street restaurant after five years of trading. The expansive cafe opened in Chelmsford in November 2021 following the pandemic closures, with space for more than 100 customers across two floors.
Orginally trading as the Breakfast Club before rebranding to Club Cafe, it pinned itself as an all-day eating and drinking cafe, blending the iconic British caf with an all-American diner. The menu featured the likes of fried chicken and waffles and a classic full English breakfast. However, the restaurant has now been completely boarded up in the popular location next to Be At One bar.
When it opened, co-founder Jonathan Arana-Morton acknowledged he was “equal parts nervous and excited” about the Chelmsford venture.
“Excited because it’s our first big step post-pandemic, and a new beginning in an incredibly vibrant city. Nervous because you can never take anything for granted, we’re starting from scratch in a new city and we have a reputation and Chelmsford’s approval to earn’’.
Arana-Morton wrote on LinkedIn that the site’s lease had come to an end and the group was moving out. He described the 5,500sqft location as “an expensive lesson”, adding: “You can never take this industry for granted.”
He said the chain broke its number one rule by “getting too big for our boots”. They took on a large property that spanned three floors with three separate concepts: a daytime cafe, a bar, and takeaway coffee area.
The chain now runs 15 restaurants in London, Brighton and Oxford, including its smallest location in London’s Seven Dials, which Arana-Morton said was the chain’s “best opening in 12 years and maybe, possibly, ever”.
The Express has approached the Breakfast Club for comment.
