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5 months ago
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A former Premier League winner has had to close his restaurant after the business was unable to agree a successful lease renewal.
He is one of several former Premier League stars who have ventured into the culinary industry since hanging up their boots.
Sometimes it can pay dividends. On other occasions it can fail to work, with one former professional having now had two restaurant businesses collapse on him.
According to The Sun, the Premier League star's Manchester restaurant, had racked up debts of around £1.1million.
That has left former Leicester City star Danny Drinkwater having to announce on Instagram the closure of his restaurant, Firefly.
A former Premier League winner has had to close his restaurant business after it was unable to agreed
The 34-year-old, who made 104 Premier League appearances for Leicester, Chelsea, Aston Villa and Burnley, announced the news on Friday.
The former Premier League winner, who owns a 70 per cent stake in the restaurant, posted a statement on Instagram, that read: 'It's with a heavy heart that Firefly Manchester will close its doors at One New Bailey after unsuccessful lease renewal negotiations with the landlord.
'We have explored various alternatives and potential relocation options but unfortunately, none were viable within the given timeframe.
'We would like to express our deepest gratitude to our dedicated staff and loyal customers for their unwavering support over the years and for making Firefly such a prominent part of the Manchester nightlife scene.
'We are now working closely with other operators to rehome the team,' he added.
It is not the first time Drinkwater, who helped guide Leicester to their fairytale Premier League title victory in 2016, has had to close one of his restaurants.
Danny Drinkwater announced the closure of his restaurant Firefly on Instagram on Friday
The former Premier League winner wrote on Instagram: 'Was great whilst it lasted. Thanks everyone'
Ex-Leicester star Danny Drinkwater saw his restaurant FoodWell rack up debts of £2million
The restaurant was located in the trendy Manchester district of Spinningfields
Firefly's menu took inspiration from North & south Amercia, Europe, India, Madagascar and East Asia
The restaurant had been decorated with some stunning floral patterns, with plants also being hung from the ceiling
Drinkwater won the Premier League title with Leicester in 2016, in what was a fairytale season
He'd go on to play for Chelsea, before being released by the club and hanging up his boots a year later
Drinkwater, who was released in 2022 by Chelsea before retiring in 2023, had opened the Manchester eatery FoodWell in 2018. But the restaurant went bust in 2022, having amassed £2m in debts while losing nearly £782,000 himself on the business.
Drinkwater said: 'Was great whilst it lasted. Thanks, everyone.'
The midfielder, a Manchester United academy graduate, joined Leicester in 2012, helping the club win the Championship in 2014.
He'd go on to join Chelsea in 2017 and would enjoy loan spells with Burnley and Aston Villa, while winning the FA Cup with the Blues in 2018.
He is not the only former pro to be forced to shut down his restaurant, with Emile Heskey also recently closing his Manchester restaurant Parea after it had been wound up by the courts after amassing £163,000 in debts.
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