A RESTAURANT co-owned by Premier League legend Ryan Giggs has closed with “immediate effect”, it is claimed.
Staff of George’s Dining Room and Bar in Worsley, Manchester, were reportedly told by text they’d been sacked.
The ex-Reds midfielder, 51, opened the venue on Barton Road in 2014 with two old school pals.
Signs on the door on Friday night said it was closed for the weekend “due to unforeseen circumstances”.
However, texts sent to staff by bosses said the restaurant has closed for good, reports the Manchester Evening News.
The messages reportedly stated they “regret to announce that with a heavy heart we have no alternative but to close George’s effective immediately”.
They added: “This is due to the obvious reduction in trade and business against the huge increases in costs of operating the business and the ongoing cost of living crisis.”
Staff are said to have also been told they will be paid any outstanding wages in “due course”, as well as notice payment, as well redundancy pay for “those to whom is applies”.
One staff member told the news outlet: “It came totally out of the blue, we were all supposed to be working today and then we got the text messages through, we are all stunned.”
When George’s opened over a decade ago, Giggs said it had been a lifelong dream of his to own a restaurant alongside childhood friends Kelvin Gregory and Bernie Taylor.
He had described it as a “really different offering for the area”, with a launch event attended by former Manchester United teammates Bryan Robson, Nicky Butt and Gary Neville.
In 2015, a new terrace was added to the restaurant.
Giggs has also since teamed up with Sky Sports pundit Neville on the GG Hospitality Group, which launched Hotel Football at Old Trafford and the Stock Exchange Hotel in the city centre.
The Sun has approached George’s and Giggs’ reps for comment.
Elsewhere, Giggs has helped to transform Salford City FC after returning to the dugout for the League Two outfit.
He has taken a more hands-on role with the first team in recent months and has been spotted in the dugout alongside manager Karl Robinson during games.
The Wales and Manchester United legend is a co-owner of the Ammies alongside his former Red Devils teammates Gary Neville, Phil Neville, Paul Scholes, Nicky Butt and investor David Beckham.
While Giggs also began working as the club’s director of football last year.
However, the former Welsh national team manager now seems to be lending his experience of coaching to the staff at Moor Lane too as he takes up a matchday role on the touchline.
KATIE Salmon stepped out for a night out in Manchester with her new boyfriend Joe, in her first public appearance since the death of her ex-fiancé.
The Love Island icon was left devastated in December 2024 when former flame Harry, with whom she shares two-year-old daughter Thaiga, passed away.
On Friday night, Katie was seen in good spirits as she and Joe Rossi, a herbal supplement businessman, arrived at Menagerie Bar in Manchester for a date night.
The star kept it casual and glam in an all black outfit, comprised of a sheer black top and a frilly mini-skirt with black tights and heels.
Beaming for photographs, Katie seemed to be doing well as she was later joined by Married At First Sight star Holly Ditchfield, posing for pictures outside the venue.
Joe, who has been dating the star since last year, kept a protective arm near Katie, with the pair walking hand-in-hand as they arrived.
The 39-year-old wore grey joggers and a jacket, keeping her hand close to his chest as they shared jokes while entering the restaurant.
Katie has slowly been returning to the public eye since the death of Harry, taking time away from social media for several weeks to process her grief.
Katie and Harry announced they were engaged on Christmas Day 2021 after a whirlwind romance, shortly after revealing they were expecting their first baby.
Thaiga (pronounced ‘tiger’) was born in March 2022, with the reality star saying her “life was complete” after the tot’s arrival.
However, just six months later the pair split, with Katie becoming a born-again Christian and focusing on being a mum.
In December 2024, Katie shared the news of Harry’s death, posting a picture of him during happier times sharing a cuddle with Thaiga.
“Trying to navigate this pain,” she wrote. “The highest highs and lowest lows with you.
“It’s so sad to know you’ll never see what a beautiful little girl she is or who she will become.
“I hope your soul finds peace Harry.”
Returning to Instagram at the beginning of January, she wrote: “Happy new year to all. I’ve taken some time of [sic] social to just re align as well as grieve and just be present with my daughter and family.
“The year ended with sad news but I have every faith this year is the year for all answered prayers and healings.”
“I’m always shocked at how I manage to get through the things I do and that’s because of God,” she continued.
“Thank you for supporting me and I can’t wait to get back to creating real content for you all that’s authentic to me and my life.
“God bless you all let’s make 2025 the best yet.”
His cause of death has not been made public.
LAURYN Goodman has broken her silence on claims she’ll follow Kyle Walker to Italy, amid his recent transfer to AC Milan, insisting she’s “not a money grabber.”
Footballer Kyle’s marriage to wife Annie Kilner is dangling by the thinnest of threads, but she and their four boys will fly to Italy and relocate to be with Kyle for a fresh start.
Annie will begin making plans, while back in the UK, to move the family.
She is keen for them to begin a new life abroad as soon as possible — once schools have been identified and they have worked out where they want to live.
And, Lauryn, who shares two children with Kyle, has spoken out on the situation, and claims she’ll move to Italy too.
She said: “For the last year I wished to have the option to move abroad because, with all of the drama, I’d like a life reset, but I’m not sure how that looks for us at the minute or what that entails.
“It makes no difference to me where [Kyle] is, he could be on Mars right now for all I care.”
She continued to tell OK!: “I’ve been through hell and back fighting for my children and then absolutely being crucified for it in the process.”
Lauryn became pregnant with Kairo while Kyle was on a break from childhood sweetheart Annie Kilner in 2019.
Kyle later got back together with Annie before they married in 2021.
But he and Lauryn stayed in touch and briefly rekindled their relationship.
Their daughter Kinara was conceived in October 2022 while the footballer was in London for treatment for a groin injury.
In December 2023 Lauryn told Annie, who was pregnant at the time, that the little girl was Kyle’s child.
Lauryn currently lives in a £2.4million house in Sussex which is owned by the 34-year-old defender.
But the Celebs Go Dating star – mother to his son Kairo, four, and daughter Kinara, one — has contacted his lawyers about renting it out while she lives in a different country.
Trolls have branded Lauryn “greedy” and a “gold digger” over the years.
But she’s insisted in her recent interview: “I’m not a money grabber.”
Lauryn added: “It’s about all the children having the same, which they will never have, but I can try to get similarities for them. If his other children are living like that, why can’t Kairo and Kinara?”
Last year, a 30-page document laid bare Lauryn’s wild shopping sprees and outrageous demands – after a previous judge had slammed her for spending money “like it was going out of fashion”.
They included £33,000 for air conditioning at her seven-bedroom mansion in Hove, Sussex, a £22,000 furnishing fund, £70,000 for a Mercedes GLE, to be replaced every three years, and a £30,000 car allowance for a nanny.
On top of that she wanted £14,750 a month in child maintenance, £3,900 a month in childcare costs, a bespoke wood and glass baby gate – and even an iron.
She also insisted on £31,200 for an astro-turf pitch – telling the court that baby Kinara had kicked a ball with her left foot from a crawling position and showed a talent as a potential Lioness of the future.
But defending herself against the demands, Lauryn broke her silence on the court case, and continued to add in her new interview: “The judge’s decision was sensationalised, like it was a huge blow to me, but in reality the difference between what I asked for and what I’m receiving is £2,250 a month.
“For someone who earns so much, you would’ve thought it wouldn’t be worth all the legal costs and trauma to battle this out, but I think Kyle wanted to win.”
