Revolution Bars goes into administration with 2200 jobs at risk

The chain’s parent firm, Revel Collective, has been pushed to call in administrators by what it calls a ‘perfect storm’ of rising costs and punishing tax hikes.

The company, which runs 62 bars across the UK, put itself up for sale last autumn, warning that “continued external challenges” were making survival harder by the month. Now, despite talks with a buyer said to be “well advanced”, administrators have been called in.

For now, venues including Revolution, Revolución de Cuba and Peach will keep serving customers, but the firm has been suspended from trading on London’s AIM market.

Pubs and bars in crisis after spirits duty and National Insurance changes

From April 2026, pubs face soaring business rates as pandemic-era relief ends, a fresh property revaluation bites and new calculation rules kick in. Add to that higher employer National Insurance, a rising minimum wage and a spirits duty hike costing an extra £4 million a year, and many operators fear they’re being taxed out of business.

Revel Collective has pointed the finger at Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ first Labour Budget, warning that it risks driving high street names out of business.

With bars still open but the future hanging by a thread, some are saying Britain’s nightlife may be the next casualty of economic policy gone wrong.

Chancellor expected to unveil £300m lifeline for struggling bars and pubs

The Chancellor is set to unveil a £300 million support package for pubs any day, according to reports.

Pubs and bars are expected to receive around £100 million a year until 2029 through additional financial support but the Chancellor has avoided more fundamental changes to business rates.

Other hospitality businesses, such as restaurants, cafes and hotels, are however expected to miss out despite also warning over soaring bills.

The Treasury’s planned intervention comes after an intensifying backlash from industry bosses and MPs over impending tax increases.

This has also seen dozens of Labour MPs, including the Chancellor, barred by pub landlords in response to November’s autumn budget.

In the budget, the Treasury announced changes to business rates which introduced a lower multiplier used to calculate the commercial property tax.

However, this was more than offset by the removal of a Covid-era 40% discount to business rates bills for hospitality, leisure and retail businesses, as well as new property valuations.

The Chancellor introduced transitional relief to manage increases to rates bills over the next three years after the removal of sector discounts.

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However, industry bodies UKHospitality and the British Beer and Pub Association warned that pub business rates bills will still increase by an average of 15%, or £1,400, in April.

They said this will be an average rise of 76%, or £7,000, by the 2028/29 financial year.

Nevertheless, the support measures are likely to draw ire from other parts of the industry, such as hotels, where business rates bills are set to jump by an average of 115% a year, or £111,300, over the next three years.