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.

Sep- 2020 -

9 September

Restaurants

Pizza Hut to close 29 sites, 450 jobs cut

Pizza Hut has confirmed it is to close 29 sites as part of a Company Voluntary Agreement (CVA) that will see around 450 jobs lost. Pizza Hut Restaurants revealed it is currently negotiating a CVA in order to “mitigate the financial impact of Covid-19”. It said PHR is “one of…
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7 September

Restaurants

Pizza Express creditors approve CVA

Pizza Express has announced today (7 September 2020) that its creditors have approved its proposed company voluntary agreement (CVA). In a virtual meeting last week, 89% of all responding creditors voted in favour of the CVA, passing the 75% threshold, while 67% of responding unconnected creditors approved the proposal. The…
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7 September

Comment

The coronavirus diaries: Aaron Wilson, The Bow Bells

At The Bow Bells, we felt the effects of Coronavirus before the lockdown began. Around two-to-three weeks before we had to close, we saw a massive reduction in trade – around a 70/80% drop. We knew immediately that this was going to be serious, so we began bringing in our…
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2 September

Coronavirus

EOTHO scheme boosts restaurant spending by 34%

The UK Government’s ‘Eat Out to Help Out’ (EOTHO) scheme saw diners spend 34.2% more at restaurants and fast food outlets on Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays in August than they did in July. This is according to new data from Barclaycard, which showcased the “success” of the Government scheme. In…
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2 September

Comment

Why the food and beverage sector now faces major insurance challenges

Mactavish, the specialist outsourced insurance buyer and claims resolution expert, is warning companies operating in the food and beverage sector that any significant operational changes they have made in response to Covid-19 could place them in breach of their existing insurance policy terms, potentially leaving them unable to access crucial…
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1 September

Restaurants

Rick Stein Marlborough restaurant to reopen on 4 September

The Rick Stein restaurant in Marlborough will reopen its doors on Friday 4 September. The Wiltshire venue was previously marked for closure due to Covid related cuts, however after a rent reduction from the landlord the decision has been reversed. The Stein family said they are “excited” to welcome guests…
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1 September

News

Vanilla Black announces closure

Vanilla Black, a vegan and vegetarian restaurant based in Holborn, will not reopen following the Covid-19 pandemic. The restaurant, known for its gourmet vegetarian cuisine and art-deco inspired dining room, held two AA rosettes and was listed in the Michelin guide. Co-owners Andrew Dargue and Donna Conroy, who founded the…
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Aug- 2020 -

27 August

Restaurants

Wahaca to shutter a third of sites

Wahaca is set to shutter more than a third of its sites, following impacted sales due to the Covid-19 pandemic. The group is now planning to close 10 of its 28 sites. Branches affected by the closure include sites in Bluewater, Kent; St Pauls, London; Liverpool; Manchester and Bristol. Alongside…
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26 August

Pubs and Bars

Greene King announces rent concessions for tied tenants

Greene King Pub Partners has announced a further £6m of financial support for its leased and tenanted partners, as they work to rebuild their businesses following the Covid-19 closure. The current rent concessions from Greene King Pub Partners are due to come to an end eight weeks after reopening. The…
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24 August

Pubs and Bars

JD Wetherspoon warns of loss following pandemic

JD Wetherspoon has announced that like-for-like bar and food sales were down by 16.9% in the 44 days to 16 August 2020, adding that it expects to make a loss for the year ended 26 July, 2020. In its latest trading update, the pub chain noted that sales have gradually…
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