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.

Nov- 2018 -

23 November

Restaurants

First Meatliquor site to close

Meatliquor’s first site in Marylebone is to close in order to make way for a luxury hotel, the site was only originally intended to be in place for two years, however it is now being removed after seven. The restaurant is set to close at the end of February after…
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9 November

Pubs and Bars

Historic pub demolition put on hold

The demolition of a 400-year-old pub to make way for affordable housing has been put on hold, after the proposed tower block was branded an eyesore. Ewloe’s Boar’s Head pub was due to be demolished following its closure in 2002, with property developers Pennaf Housing claiming they were meeting a…
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8 November

Beverages

Krombacher organises London pub walk to highlight pub closure crisis

Beer manufacturer, Krombacher has organised a London pub walk in order to highlight the pub closure crisis. A team of the manufacturers workers will walk 30 miles in order to cover 300 London pubs in 24 hours. The team will be fundraising for the Licenced Trade Charity, which helps those…
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6 November

Restaurants

Restaurant insolvencies reach highest level in eight years

The number of restaurant businesses going bust has reached its highest level since 2010, jumping sharply in the first three quarters of 2018, according to data by accountancy firm Price Bailey. According to the firm, 1,123 British restaurant businesses became insolvent in the first three quarters of 2018, a 35%…
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1 November

Advice

Think inside the pouch: Why stand-up pouches are perfect for food-based products

When it comes to selling edible goods, getting your packaging right is essential. Firstly, it’s got to look good – that means your branding has to be on point and the container itself has to have withstood whatever travel it’s undergone (who wants to buy bashed up tins and cartons?)…
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Oct- 2018 -

25 October

Beverages

Soho’s Fernandez & Wells closes

Fernandez & Wells has closed its first ever site on Soho’s Lexington Street, the closure leaves the chain with three outlets all in the Soho area. The chain, founded by Rick Wells and Jorge Fernandez, which specialises in a unique blend of tapas, wine and sandwiches, has been open at…
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24 October

Business

GBK enters CVA

GBK has announced it is to enter a CVA this afternoon (24 October) following the appointment of Deloitte in September to oversee a restructuring of the business. In an announcement, Famous Brands, the South African restaurant chain’s owners said: “The CVA process has the objective to ensure financial viability and…
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24 October

Cafes and Coffee Shops

Winding up petition against Patisserie Valerie dismissed

The winding up petition against Stonebeach Limited, parent company of crisis-hit cafe chain Patisserie Valerie, has been dismissed. Patisserie Holdings released a statement on 24 October which said it was “pleased” that the petition against it been dismissed by the High Court of Justice, Business and Property Courts. HMRC served…
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12 October

Business

Patisserie Valerie saved from collapse with £20m rescue plan

Crisis-hit cafe chain Patisserie Valerie has been saved from collapse after entrepreneur Luke Johnson offered the company a rescue plan with two loans of up to £20m. Johnson, who owns a 37% stake in the company, has committed to a bridging loan of up to £10m to help the company…
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4 October

Awards & Events

Bar soon to close named ‘world’s best’

Dandelyan based in London’s Southbank has been announced as the ‘World’s Best Bar for 2018’ despite announcing its closure on 1 October. Ryan Chetiyawardana, the bar’s co-founder said he was “flabbergasted” by the award, adding: “In a way it’s the most fitting thing. We’ve worked so hard and with so…
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