Coronation Street star Jennie McAlpine's tearoom struggles with debts close to £500k after firm files losses for a THIRD consecutive year

By Roxy Simons and Matthew Acton For Mailonline

Published: 14:30 BST, 28 June 2018 | Updated: 09:35 BST, 29 June 2018

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Coronation Street star Jennie McAlpine's tearoom is struggling with debts close to £500,000, it has been revealed.

The actress, 34, whose soap character Fiz Brown worked in Roy’s Rolls, was hoping open a chain of eateries across Britain, but the firm behind central Manchester cafe Annie's is battling financial problems.

Fifth Floor Ltd, the company that was set up to run the tearoom, is struggling with debts - despite Annie's winning rave reviews from customers on TripAdvisor.

Financial woes: Coronation Street star Jennie McAlpine's tearoom is struggling with debts close to £500,000, it has been revealed

The firm has total debts of £428,658 according to accounts for 2017 filed to Companies House.

Figures are up from debts of £384,771 in 2016 and £376,991 in 2015.

Jennie runs the tearoom alongside her husband Chris Farr, with whom she has son Albert, three.

A source revealed: 'Jennie and Chris are hoping to trade their way back into profit but the margins are tight in the restaurant world and it is hard-going.

Tough: Fifth Floor Ltd, the firm that was set up to run the eatery, is currently struggling with total debts of £428,658 according to accounts for 2017 sent to Companies House recently

'It has always been the plan to open more than one restaurant but just getting this one firing on all cylinders financially is proving tough.'

MailOnline have contacted a representative for Jennie McAlpine for comment.

Another company set up to sell food like jam and biscuits via the internet called Fifth Floor Online Ltd was dissolved after the venture failed.

Jennie opened Annie's in Manchester city centre with her husband in December 2012, and she had been hoping to open a chain of eateries across Britain.

Hopes: The actress, 34, opened Annie's in Manchester city centre with her now husband Chris Farr in December 2012, and she had been hoping to open a chain of eateries across Britain

Despite the monetary problems, Annie's gets rave reviews on TripAdvisor from diners and is also popular with her Corrie co-stars.

The restaurant serves traditional English food and has Rovers Return favourite Lancashire hot pot on the menu.

When Jennie is not busy filming the hit soap opera, she can be found in the restaurant helping out and chatting to her regulars.