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.

Mar- 2021 -

8 March

Business

Deliveroo losses narrow to £233.7m ahead of London float

Deliveroo has revealed a narrowing of its losses to £233.7m during 2020 while also confirming its London stock market floatation. The food delivery app gave prospective investors an insight into its financial performance today (8 March, as part of the launch of its Initial Public Offering (IPO). Its trading update showed…
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2 March

Trade Associations

Sunak’s ‘unrealistic’ rent figures spark uproar among pub tenants

A recent comment made by Rishi Sunak has “sparked uproar” amongst the nation’s tenant publicans after the chancellor quoted “wholly unrealistic figures” regarding the amount of rent they pay when speaking on a recent TV appearance. According to Campaign for Real Pubs, on Sunday 28 February when talking on the…
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1 March

Coronavirus

Chancellor to unveil £5bn support package

Chancellor Rishi Sunak is expected to offer over 700,000 retail, hospitality and other businesses grants of up to £18,000 as part of a £5bn rescue package to be included in his Budget speech on Wednesday (3 March). The new ‘Restart Grants’ will be directly distributed from local authorities from April…
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1 March

Restaurants

Wimpy profits surge to almost £1m

Wimpy Restaurants Group, owner of the Wimpy burger chain, has reported a rise in profits to almost £1m for the year ended 29 February 2020. Climbing from £716,319 to £990,663, the firm’s profits for the year represented a year-on-year increase of 38%. While the group’s revenue for the period did…
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Feb- 2021 -

26 February

Coronavirus

Over 200 hospitality leaders plead for emergency support

More than 200 industry leaders and trade bodies representing the UK’s hospitality and pub sectors have warned the Government that, unless a “substantial package of support” is announced at the Budget, nearly two thirds of businesses may not be able to make it to the end of lockdown. UKHospitality, the…
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25 February

Coronavirus

Hospitality leaders ‘optimistic’ of long-term future, CGA finds

Hospitality leaders are reportedly optimistic about the long-term future of the sector, though “urgent” support is still required to help them navigate reopening, according to the CGA Business Leaders’ Survey 2021. The survey, which was conducted in collaboration with UKHospitality, British Beer and Pub Association and the British Institute of…
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22 February

Pubs and Bars

M&B’s £350m open offer ‘critical’ for survival

Mitchells and Butlers has announced the launch of an open offer, following an announcement last week that the group intends to raise £350m from shareholders. The board, which includes representatives of the Odyzean Group, a major shareholder of Mitchells and Butlers, said it believes that the open offer is “critical…
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12 February

Pubs and Bars

Mitchells and Butlers pub branch announces permanent closure

A Mitchells and Butlers (M&B) pub, in Didsbury Manchester has announced that it will be permanently closing, as ongoing restrictions continue to take a toll on the hospitality sector. In a social media post owners of The Stoker’s Arms stated that due to “circumstances outside of their control” the pub…
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3 February

Pubs and Bars

Pubs vital in battle against isolation

Pubs are key in tackling loneliness and provide a social value far beyond their economic contributions to society, according to research conducted by Loughborough University. The Open Arms report, which was conducted in tandem with Heineken UK and the Campaign to End Loneliness, found that institutions such as pubs are…
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Jan- 2021 -

27 January

Pubs and Bars

CAMRA: Forced hospitality closure until may will be ‘devastating’

Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has responded to the comments by Sage scientists that hospitality businesses should remain closed until May by suggesting that this would be a “devastating double whammy” for pubs and breweries. The organisation said it was “absolutely critical” for the government to intervene with further support…
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