Revolution’s Administration: 600 Jobs Cut, Many Positions Retained
Revolution bars have undergone significant changes following their administration, resulting in the loss of 600 jobs while preserving nearly 1,600 positions. The Revel Collective, parent company of Revolution bars, filed for administration on a Monday, appointing FTI Consulting to manage the process.
Job Cuts and Retained Positions
As part of the administration proceedings, administrators completed transactions that safeguarded 1,582 jobs across the operation. This included the sale of various brands and pub chains.
- Revolution, Revolucion de Cuba, and Founders & Co sold to Neos Holdco Limited.
- Peach pubs were acquired by Coral Pub Company Acquisition Limited, founded by Ted Kennedy.
Despite these sales, 14 Revolution sites, six Revolucion de Cuba locations, and one Peach pub will close immediately, affecting 591 employees.
Affected Locations
The closures will impact numerous venues across the UK:
- Revolution: Manchester (Oxford Road), Huddersfield, Leicester, Glasgow (Renfield Street), Cardiff, Nottingham, Leeds, Sheffield, Ipswich, Manchester (Parsonage Gardens), Plymouth, Durham, Exeter, Preston.
- Revolucion de Cuba: Cardiff, Derby, Liverpool, Reading, Harrogate, Aberdeen.
- Peach: The Almanack, Kenilworth, Warwickshire.
Industry Context and Challenges
The announcement coincided with expected changes in UK business rates for pubs, which are projected to raise costs by nearly £13,000 over three years for the average establishment. The hospitality sector has faced increasing financial pressures, including new minimum wage mandates and soaring national insurance contributions.
Revel had previously attempted restructuring in 2024, shutting down 15 unprofitable locations. The company’s struggles have been attributed to weak sales, particularly among younger patrons with limited disposable income, as well as rising operational costs and a growing debt burden.
