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.

Aug- 2022 -

12 August

Pubs and Bars

Star Pubs & Bars to revamp Windermere hotel and pub

The Grey Walls, a hotel and bar in Windermere, has proposed a major £750,000 investment to reopen it after a two-year closure. Heineken-owned Star Pubs and Bars intends to refurbish The Grey Walls, the “extensive plans would transform the tired premises into a premium local with a reputation for great…
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Jul- 2022 -

19 July

Restaurants

Quarter of hospitality businesses facing closure due to energy concerns

A quarter of hospitality bosses are considering closure in the next 12 months, according to new research commissioned by digital energy services company, eEnergy. According to the representative poll of 300 UK business owners and senior executives carried out by Censuswide on behalf of eEnergy, over three quarters have considered…
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4 July

Pubs and Bars

Number of pubs falls by over 7,000 in past decade

The number of English and Welsh pubs fell below 40,000 for the first time during the first half of 2022 with pub numbers having fallen by 7,107 in the last 10 years, new research has revealed. Research by the real estate adviser Altus Group, found that the overall number of…
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Jun- 2022 -

6 June

Trade Associations

10,000 hospitality businesses face closure, UKH CEO warns

The CEO of UKHospitality has warned that 10,000 pubs and restaurants could face closure in light of rising inflation, energy costs and rents across the industry. Kate Nicholls told the Mail on Sunday that the hospitality sector was now facing “as big a crisis, if not bigger”, since the pandemic. …
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1 June

Breweries and Distilleries

Brewdog losses narrow as revenues hit £286m

Brewdog has reported its revenues surged 21% year-on-year from £238m to £286m in the year ended 31 December 2021, amid growing UK sales and market share growth despite pandemic restrictions being in place for much of the year. Operating losses for the Scottish brewer and bar operator also narrowed to…
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May- 2022 -

27 May

Restaurants

Gees Restaurant & Bar reopens after £1.5m refurb

Gees Restaurant and Bar in Oxford has officially reopened this week following an investment of more than £1.5m. Diners are now able to return to the venue following a 13-week closure while the site underwent a full refurbishment. It now reopens with a renewed glasshouse and two new dining spaces,…
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13 May

Breweries and Distilleries

Adnams sales hit £57.4m in FY21

Adnams, the brewer, distiller and retailer, has revealed that sales rose by £7m to £57.4m in the 12 months to 31 December 2021, despite an operating loss of £0.9m over the period. Despite more “stringent” restrictions in the early months of the year, trading months operated ahead of expectations, with…
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12 May

Catering Companies

Cost pressures hit growth for contract caterers despite bounce back

Sales in the contract catering sector remain well below pre-Covid levels as sales are 20% below the figure recorded in the first three months (Q1) of 2019, despite year-on-year increases. According to CGA’s Contract Catering Tracker, caterers now serve around 1,250 fewer units than they did three years ago, and…
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Apr- 2022 -

28 April

Pubs and Bars

BBPA calls on election candidates to support local pubs

The British Beer and Pub Association (BBPA) is calling on local candidates to back calls for fairer business rates and protect their local pubs ahead of next week’s election. The association said that with rates collected by local authorities, one of the “single biggest ways” councillors could help save pubs…
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20 April

Restaurants

UK licensed premises contract as CGA warns of future closures

Britain’s number of licensed premises contracted 0.9% in the first quarter of 2022, the latest market recovery monitor from CGA and AlixPartners reveals. It indicates that Britain had just under 106,000 licensed premises at the end of March 2022. CGA said that “while this small decrease does represent a slowdown…
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