It is still unclear whether the Dublin-based branch of the Cafe Rouge chain of restaurants will be one of those affected by Whitbread's decision to close around 30 branches of the chain.

UK-based operator of restaurants Whitbread said it would sell 140 of its restaurants after a 6 per cent drop in profits. These included around 30 of the 103 Cafe Rouge Restaurants and 10 out of the 73 Bella Pasta sites. "We haven't actually produced a list of outlets affected by this decision but we should be making an announcement on the particular outlets next week," said a spokesman. "Of the 30 Cafe Rouge sites, not all will be sales. Some will be re-branded as other Whitbread restaurant concepts."

The fate of Dublin-based TGI Friday, a branch of another Whitbread chain, appears more certain. "We haven't particularly earmarked TGI Friday and it is distinctly unlikely this chain will be affected. We are actually looking to expand this chain from 39 at present to 57," said the spokesman.