Two of the three Tyneside restaurants had only been open a matter of months, but they will not reopen
Hundreds of jobs have been saved at the Handmade Burger Co after the firm was sold - but its three Tyneside burger restaurants aren't part of the deal.
The future of the restaurants at Eldon Square and the Gate, in Newcastle, and the Gateshead Metrocentre, fell into doubt after the chain reported financial difficulties and was placed in the hands of administrators.
The three Tyneside sites - including the two shopping centre sites which had only opened in the last 18 months as parts of operator intu's new dining areas - closed, but 20 remained opened.
New joint administrators of the The Sargeant Partnership Limited and Hand Made Burger Company LLP have confirmed a sale has been completed and all 350 remaining jobs have been safeguarded, while the restaurant chain's 20 remaining outlets will continue to operate.
Joint administrator Julien Irving said: "Since our appointment on July 6 we have worked hard to secure the most favourable outcome for all creditors.
"Despite being unable to propose a CVA, we have since managed to secure a buyer for the business and are delighted that this positive outcome has been achieved."
The administrators are being undertaken by the Birmingham office of Leonard Curtis Business Rescue and Recovery and were advised by Russ Hill of Squire Patton Boggs (UK) LLP.
The Birmingham-based business, which had employed around 900 people, is one of several upmarket burger chains to open sites in the North East in recent years and faced competition from the likes of Byron, Five Guys and Smash Burger.