A well-known restaurant and cocktail bar has shut its doors at Lakeside for good.
Las Iguanas, which stood at Lakeside Shopping Centre in West Thurrock for almost two decades, is listed as permanently closed after reportedly shutting on September 27.
The restaurant, known for its Latin American dishes and all-day happy hour offering 2-for-£13 cocktails, has been removed from both the Lakeside Shopping Centre and Las Iguanas websites.
The chain’s nearest remaining branch is in Chelmsford, according to its website.
The closure comes amid financial challenges at Iguanas Holdings Limited, which operates 44 Las Iguanas restaurants across the UK.
In June, a High Court judge approved a restructuring plan designed to keep the company out of administration.
Company lawyers said it was “heavily loss-making” and reliant on support from parent company The Big Table Group, which also owns Frankie & Benny’s, Bella Italia and Banana Tree.
Backed by most creditors, the plan will wipe out around £37 million owed to one creditor and bring a £3 million investment from The Big Table Group for a turnaround.
Mr Justice Meade approved the scheme at a London hearing on June 5.
A previous High Court hearing heard that the UK casual dining sector had faced “substantial problems” because of high inflation, weaker consumer spending and rising taxes.
Lawyers said trading conditions "remain very challenging" despite improvements to the Las Iguanas menu and customer experience, while the company lost nearly £10 million in 2025.
The barrister said the plan was “similar” to those used by other high-street chains, including Poundland, River Island and Revolution Bars.
The plans led to closures in Essex, including Poundland stores in Witham and Rayleigh and a Revolution bar in Southend.
Las Iguanas opened at Lakeside’s Boardwalk in February 2008, with two floors of dining overlooking the lake.
The Big Table Group has been contacted for comment.
Earlier High Court proceedings heard that many Las Iguanas restaurants were significantly over-rented, with 17 leases described as “wholly unviable”.
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