Closure

In this section, we report on restaurant, pub, bar, café, and catering business closures across the UK, and the commercial, operational, and market factors behind them. From high-street exits and group-wide restructures to insolvencies, lease surrenders, and strategic site rationalisations, we cover the real-world impacts of rising costs, labour shortages, shifting demand, and margin pressures. We go beyond headlines to explain why closures are happening and what they mean for the wider sector. Whether you’re benchmarking performance or navigating tough decisions, we provide the context hospitality professionals need to stay informed.

Oct- 2025 -

30 October

Cafes and Coffee Shops

Starbucks returns to sales growth in Q4 amid turnaround plan

Starbucks has reported that global store sales rose 1% in the fourth quarter to 28 September with consolidated revenues rising 5% year-on-year to $9.6bn (£7.5bn), as the group’s “Back to Starbucks” turnaround plan continues. This marks a return to global sales growth for the first time in seven quarters at…
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28 October

Restaurants

UKH warns hundreds of venues could shut under new rates surcharge

Hundreds of large hospitality venues could face closure if the government goes ahead with plans to impose a new business rates surcharge on big properties, UKHospitality and the British Retail Consortium (BRC) have warned. According to UKH, the measure would threaten around 500 high street venues with rateable values above…
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17 October

Restaurants

Hard Rock Cafe UK losses widen to £7.5m

Hard Rock Cafe UK Limited has reported a loss after tax of £7.5m for the year to 31 December 2024, which widened from a £0.9m loss a year prior. According to the group’s filing at Companies House, sales fell to £29.2m from £32.5m the previous year, driven by lower restaurant…
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Sep- 2025 -

5 September

Pubs and Bars

Nightclub closures leave 26% of UK towns without venues

More than a quarter (26%) of towns and cities in the UK have lost all their nightclubs since 2020, according to new figures from the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA). The trade body said 26% of areas that had at least one nightclub before the pandemic no longer have any,…
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2 September

Pubs and Bars

Heston Blumenthal calls for more gov action to save British pubs

Chef Heston Blumenthal has urged government and licensees to act to halt the closure of pubs across the UK, warning that the “Great British pub” is under threat from rising costs and changing social habits. More than one pub a day closed in the first half of 2025, according to…
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2 September

Pubs and Bars

Vacant licensed venue in Helensburgh sold to Amber Taverns

Christie and Co has announced the sale of a vacant licensed property in Helensburgh to pub company Amber Taverns, for an undisclosed amount. Located on James Street in the town centre, the property previously operated as a successful bar and restaurant, formerly known as ‘The Loggie Baird’ until its closure…
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Aug- 2025 -

26 August

Pubs and Bars

One in four UK late-night venues has closed since 2020, NTIA warns

The UK has lost nearly 800 late-night venues since 2020, raising concerns over the future of the country’s night-time economy, according to new data from the latest Night Time Economy Monitor. The report, compiled by the Night Time Industries Association (NTIA) and CGA by NIQ, show the sector has contracted…
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19 August

Restaurants

Wahaca returns to FY profit as DF Tacos ceases trading

Wahaca has announced plans to cease operations within its DF Tacos brand, and instead focus on the Wahaca brand as the group welcomed rising turnover and profits in its full-year results. For the year ended 30 June 2024, pre-tax profit hit £0.7m, up from a loss of £0.7m the prior…
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11 August

Food and Drink

Papa John’s Q2 revenues rise 4% to $529m

Papa John’s has reported that group revenues rose 4% to $529m (£393m) in the second quarter to 29 June, mainly driven by higher commissary sales. This comes despite a year-on-year drop in revenues caused by the closure and refranchising of more than 100 restaurants in 2024. Revenues from company-owned international…
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Jul- 2025 -

14 July

Restaurants

Darwin and Wallace FY losses widen to £11.3m under new ownership

Bar-restaurant operator Darwin and Wallace has seen its pre-tax losses widen, from £1.9m to £11.3m in the 70-week period to 30 September 2024, after restructuring its estate and operations under new ownership. According to its latest filing at Companies House, the results were affected by an impairment charge of £7.3m,…
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