CRUZZOS, THE upscale restaurant overlooking the marina in Malahide, Co Dublin, has become the latest eatery to fall victim to the recession.

The 260-seater venue, which was launched in 2000, failed to open in the new year, resulting in 35 redundancies.

According to manager Karen Molloy, while the restaurant was still pulling in the crowds on a Saturday night, it was just too big to be viable in the current environment. At its peak, it employed 110 staff, with 17 chefs at peak times.

It is now hoped that a third party will be found to lease the premises or, failing that, it will be re-opened in a smaller capacity under a new name.