LIVERPOOL’S restaurateurs are suffering their worst period of trading in a generation, according to industry insiders.

Hospitality chiefs spoke out after the sudden closure of Jalons Bridewell, on Campbell Square, in the city centre.

The up,market eatery closed its doors last Wednesday after just 2½ years of trading.

Its owner, John Dooley, invested £250,000 furnishing the former cellblock as a chic restaurant, but could not attract enough regular customers.

His other restaurant, Jalons on Smithdown Road, has been open for 17 years and will continue trading.

Explaining his decision to quit the Bridewell, Mr Dooley, 45, told the Daily Post: “To be honest, it wasn’t busy enough. We tried our best, put some stars in, but we couldn’t get people in mid-week.

“We spent a fortune doing the place up. It was nice, but you can only go on so long – Smithdown Road was subsidising it.

“We had live music on every night, but it was very hit and miss. One week we would take £15,000, then the next week it would be £6,000.

“The last year has been the worst I’ve ever known it. It was probably a bad time to open it, when the recession was just starting, but I was looking at all the development going on in Liverpool One.”

Mr Dooley, who opened the Bridewell restaurant in December, 2007, is now looking into what the restaurant could be used for and is considering re-opening it as a private function venue.