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.

Jul- 2020 -

14 July

Restaurants

Michelin-starred restaurant Pensons to reopen on 15 July

Michelin Star restaurant, Pensons, has announced the reopening of its site from tomorrow (15 July). The only Michelin-starred restaurant on the Herefordshire/Worcestershire/Shropshire border has revealed the social distancing measures put in place, which includes tables being “much more widely spaced” than the government guidance and the front of house team…
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10 July

Coronavirus

Oakman Inns appoints new CEO and chair as sales slide 17%

Oakman Inns has announced a series of board changes including the appointment of Dermot King as chief executive, also revealing that FY sales fell by 17% due to Covid-19. Prior to the impact of the coronavirus pandemic, Oakman revealed it was “trading well” with LFL sales up 4.3% year to…
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10 July

Cafes and Coffee Shops

Cereal Killer Cafè closes two London sites

The founders of the Cereal Killer Cafè have announced the permanent closure of two of their London sites, attributing the coronavirus lockdown and industry uncertainty to the decision. In a statement posted on Facebook, brothers Alan and Gary Keery said they would be saying “Cheerio” to their cafes, “for now”,…
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9 July

Coronavirus

Industry reacts to Sunak’s summer statement

The hospitality sector has widely welcomed the series of measures announced by the chancellor in his “summer statement” yesterday, with UKHospitality saying it is “reassuring” that he singled out hospitality and tourism as a “vital part” of the UK’s economy. Yesterday (8 July), along with a £9bn retention scheme that…
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9 July

Coronavirus

Brighton’s The Fix to permanently close

Brighton-based cocktail bar The Fix, within Artist Residence hotel has announced its permanent closure. Chef Dan Kennedy confirmed the closure via an Instagram post, which said: “Sad news unfortunately. We won’t be returning. “Covid-19 has hit our industry hard and made it too difficult for us to now run this…
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6 July

Coronavirus

Freak Scene Soho to close permanently

Pan-Asian restaurant Freak Scene in London’s Soho has announced its permanent closure post-lockdown. In an Instagram post, founder Scott Hallsworth said: “Freak Scene in Soho will not be reopening. “A combination of expensive real estate, greedy landlords and Covid-19 means we’ve now come to the end of chapter two of…
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6 July

Coronavirus

Hospitality sector calls for business investment package

Industry leaders in hospitality have urged the government to commit to an “ambitious” programme of business support and investment to stimulate the revival of the sector as restrictions begin to ease. In a letter signed by 120 hospitality leaders, the government has been called on to “act decisively” for a…
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2 July

Restaurants

Shake Shack launches in Brighton through Deliveroo Editions

American burger chain Shake Shack has joined Deliveroo Editions in Brighton. Customers will be able to order meals from Shake Shack, all cooked and prepared at Deliveroo’s purpose built, delivery-only, super kitchen in Brighton. Items on the menu include the brand’s signature ShackBurger, crinkle cut fries and cheese sauce. Shake…
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2 July

News

Mitchells and Butlers swings to £121m loss

Mitchells and Butlers sales fell by 12.4% to £1.04bn in the half-year ended 11 April, while adjusted operating profit was £108m, down from £151m the year prior. In light of the pandemic and consequent lockdown, the group fell to a pre-tax loss of £121m. The group also made an operating…
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1 July

Comment

Will technology become a caterer’s best friend when doors reopen?

July 4th will undoubtedly be a day of celebration not just for hospitality professionals, but for the whole country, as bars, pubs and restaurants are given the green light to open their doors once more. But happiness will be mingled with apprehension for many restaurant owners, wondering how social distancing…
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