'My £750 vouchers are useless after restaurant closure'

A pistillate who spent £750 connected vouchers for a Michelin-starred edifice earlier it closed fears she whitethorn person mislaid her money.

Purnell's successful Birmingham, which became celebrated for modern seasonal food, unopen successful October.

But much than a twelve radical contacted the BBC to accidental they had been told vouchers, sometimes worthy hundreds of pounds, would not beryllium refunded oregon redeemed.

Glynn Purnell, who ran the restaurant, said helium was "heartbroken" by the closure and apologised for what helium called a "difficult situation".

Therese Roberts, a retired selling idiosyncratic from Coventry, said she bought £500 worthy of vouchers for her children past Christmas, earlier besides spending wealth connected a £250 voucher for a friend.

She said she didn't find retired the edifice had adjacent closed until she work the BBC's study connected it.

After contacting liquidators, Ms Roberts was told the vouchers were irredeemable and it was not imaginable for refunds to beryllium issued.

Her petition to usage them astatine different of Mr Purnell's restaurants was besides rejected.

"I'm truly disappointed," the 58-year-old said. "He classes himself arsenic the 'Yummy Brummie'. He blames greedy chains taking his concern but helium didn't privation to pass oregon travel to a compromise with me.

"I thought helium was a amended antheral than that. It's near a rotten sensation successful my mouth."

Ms Roberts antecedently visited Purnell's with her husband, describing it arsenic a "great experience".

She said she truly enjoyed eating astatine the premium constitution and wanted her loved ones to beryllium capable to effort it too.

"He's travel crossed arsenic a down to world lad from Chelmsley Wood," the parent added of Mr Purnell.

"I thought helium would recognize what it was similar to beryllium an mean idiosyncratic successful the street."

Ms Roberts was among aggregate customers who were told to interaction their banks to effort and unafraid a refund, but galore received them arsenic gifts and successful immoderate cases up to a twelvemonth ago.

Sean Devlin, 72, from Malvern, Worcestershire, said helium held a £110 5 people luncheon for 2 ticket, which helium tin nary longer use.

The retired caput teacher received the voucher arsenic a Christmas acquisition past year, but was told Purnell's was closed erstwhile helium tried to publication a table.

"I person had nary accusation astatine each from them," helium said. "It makes maine transverse really.

"They person had a hard time, but truthful person galore different people. I'm definite they person made bully wealth implicit the years."

Angela Blacker, from Broseley successful Shropshire, received the aforesaid voucher arsenic Mr Devlin, arsenic a contiguous for her 60th birthday.

The retiree was amazed erstwhile she discovered the acquisition would not beryllium honoured.

"I'm shocked astatine the level of lawsuit service," she said. "We person had perfectly thing astatine all.

"It's not our responsibility he's closed the restaurant. I was truly looking guardant to going determination posh, but it's not going to hap now."

Speaking aft the edifice closed, Mr Purnell said the eatery had been going done "a truly pugnacious time" and seen bookings autumn by much than 20%.

"Things person moved connected and times person changed," helium said. "In this existent climate, no-one is bulletproof."

But helium hinted determination could beryllium much to come, adding: "I’m excited for the aboriginal and the adjacent steps successful my journey. This isn’t the past you’ve heard of the 'Yummy Brummie'."

On Saturday, Mr Purnell issued a connection saying the closure was successful the hands of liquidators and questions regarding vouchers indispensable legally beryllium addressed to them.

"I person been precise grateful for the enactment successful the unfortunate and unforeseen closure of the edifice aft 17 years," helium said.

"We person been advised that refunds tin besides beryllium requested via customers ain banks and recognition paper companies. I tin lone apologise for this hard situation."

The BBC has besides contacted liquidator Butcher Woods for comment.