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 -

1 July

Business

Upper Crust owner SSP set to cut 5,000 jobs amid dwindling demand

Some 5,000 jobs at Upper Crust owner SSP could be axed as the company faces dwindling demand due to the Covid-19 pandemic. SSP said the impact on passenger travel arising from Covid-19 resulted in the closure of almost all of its units in the UK. It added that its intention…
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1 July

Coronavirus

Investment into hospitality sector tumbles as coronavirus hits

Business investment in hotels and restaurants has fallen by more than 6% in a year as coronavirus “ravages” the sector, analysis by specialist tax relief consultancy Catax shows. Total business investment in the sector fell by 6% to £1.26bn in the first quarter of 2020, down from £1.34bn for the…
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1 July

Coronavirus

Castle Terrace to close due to Covid-19’s ‘devastating effect’

Edinburgh-based restaurant, Castle Terrace, has announced it will not reopen post-lockdown, attributing the Covid-19 pandemic as having a “devastating effect on the hospitality industry”. The restaurant, which opened 10 years ago by chefs Domonic Jack and Tom Kitchin, revealed the news via an Instagram post. Jack said: “Sadly today [30…
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Jun- 2020 -

30 June

Cafes and Coffee Shops

Caffè Nero to reopen 400 stores to eat in from 4 July

Caffè Nero has announced it will reopen 400 stores for eat-in from the 4 July. The stores will open with protocols in place to ensure its employees and customers remain safe and in accordance with government advice and social distancing guidance. The stores will offer Caffè Nero’s coffee and other…
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29 June

Restaurants

TGI Fridays announces reopening of 66 sites on 6 July

TGI Fridays has announced the reopening of 66 of its UK restaurants on 6 July. The company said it will also reveal a “fresh new brand” which will be showcased at six specially selected restaurants, dubbed ‘Famous at Fridays’, with elements introduced across the rest of the estate. These new…
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25 June

News

Young’s raises £88m from investors

Young’s has tapped more than £88m from its investors through a share placing ahead of pubs reopening from next week. The pub operator said it had placed a total of 4,263,453 placing shares at 1,160p per share, and 4.9m non-voting shares at 735p per share to raise £85.5m. In addition,…
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24 June

Business Bites

Nine ways to encourage pubs, bars and restaurants to remain Covid-secure as they prepare to reopen

Since the Covid-19 pandemic brought about the temporary lockdown across the UK since 20 March, we’ve seen closure of our pubs, bars and restaurants for several months. With the UK government’s phased approach of easing lockdown restrictions slowly unfolding, the announcement came that hospitality businesses could see themselves trading again…
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23 June

Coronavirus

Soho House secures $100m in equity funding

Soho House has reportedly secured an additional $100m (£80.2m) to help it see out the impact of the coronavirus pandemic which has seen the closure of its restaurants and member clubs. According to Sky News, Soho’s biggest investor, American millionaire Ron Burkle, has formed a group of new and existing…
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16 June

Pubs and Bars

The Seafood Pub Company collapses into administration

The Seafood Pub Company has collapsed into administration after it failed to secure funding to help support it through the ongoing pandemic. According to the Lancashire Telegraph, founder Joycelyn Neve reportedly informed staff of the administration in a letter that circulated last Friday (12 June). The letter read: “It is…
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15 June

Coronavirus

City Pub Group posts strong results as it reveals new ‘streamlined’ business

The City Pub Group has revealed it experienced a 31% increase in revenues for the year ended 29 December 2019, and revealed it is set to reopen as a more “efficient” and “streamlined” business post Covid-19. The group said it saw revenues reach £60m up from £45.7m the previous year.…
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