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.

Aug- 2018 -

7 August

Opinion

Is the demise of restaurant chains a good thing for local independents?

The Gaucho restaurant group is the latest in a list of chain restaurants to appoint administrators or announce restructuring and branch closures. The news, including the closure of their 22 Cau restaurants follows on from the restructuring of Jamie’s Italian, Prezzo, Café Rouge, Byron and Strada. In my home city…
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Jul- 2018 -

25 July

Restaurants

Gunpowder founder to close Madame D and Gul and Sepoy restaurants

Harneet Baweja, founder of Gunpowder Holdings, has announced the closure of Gul and Sepoy, and Madame D restaurants in order to concentrate his energy on the Gunpowder group. He is due to open his second Gunpowder restaurant at One Tower Bridge in September and Custard bakery in October at the…
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18 July

Restaurants

Gaucho on the verge of administration

Argentine restaurant group Gaucho is reportedly on the verge of entering administration as it has failed to secure a rescue deal. Sky News reported that the struggling chain has filed a notice of intention to appoint Deloitte as its administrator and could make an announcement as soon as Wednesday afternoon…
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Jun- 2018 -

20 June

Business

EXCLUSIVE: Starbucks says ‘no UK store closures’ after US announcement

Starbucks’ recent US store closures announcement “does not affect” its UK stores”, Catering Today has learned. The clarification comes days after the US business said it would increase its US store closure rate up to 150 amid weak sales forecasts that predicted and a falling share price. Historically the company…
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19 June

Business

Eat avoids CVA following sales boost

Sandwich chain Eat has avoided having to draft in advisors as recent closures and an increase in sales have put the company back on track, Catering Today understands. In February, the chain was reported to have appointed advisors KPMG to help it with its restructuring plan which included the closure…
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14 June

Restaurants

50 firefighters called to Cardiff restaurant inferno

As many has 50 firefighters were sent to deal with a blaze at a Cardiff restaurant shortly before 3:45am this morning. https://twitter.com/GriffithsJECtrl/status/1006775202808782848 The restaurant La Shish is still being dampened down by four crews and a support team at the time of writing. The fire has seen road closure on…
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11 June

Regulations & Policies

Restaurant closed following raid

A Wokingham restaurant has been closed following a raid by immigration officials who arrested an illegal immigrant. Wokingham Council were yet to make a decision regarding the licence renewal application for the Haweli restaurant, however the Home Office asked the council to review its licence leading to its closure. If…
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6 June

Business

Alice’s Restaurant in Kent closes just six months after opening

One of Kent’s newest restaurants has closed just six months after its opening, as it served its last customers on 27 May. The restaurant has blamed poor profits following bad weather on the high street for the closure. The restaurant previously named The Tipsy Pigeon and Paul’s Restaurant, served a…
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1 June

Restaurants

Carluccio’s approves CVA putting 500 jobs at risk

The creditors of Italian dining chain Carluccio’s have voted in favour of a company voluntary agreement (CVA) which could see more than 30 of its outlets closed and put 500 jobs at risk. On Thursday 31 May, 91% of its creditors approved the decision. The 34 restaurants at risk would…
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May- 2018 -

18 May

Business

London rent rises would see closure of 84% of London restaurants, says survey

New research has found that 84% of London restaurants would be forced to close or move away from the capital should rent rises continue. The survey also found that 90% of owners believe rent rises would make their businesses “unmanageable”. The survey carried out by property company Cedar Dean Group…
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