Revolution owner to appoint administrators
The Revel Collective, owner of UK bar chain Revolution, has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators amid a potential sale of the business.
As well as announcing its intention to appoint an administrator, the company revealed discussions of an acquisition are “well advanced”, with further information due “in the coming days”.
It added that any such transactions are not expected to deliver any return to shareholders. As such, it will appoint administrators within 10 business days to protect its creditors.
The business will continue to trade, and the company will work alongside advisers to “preserve as much value as possible” for all stakeholders.
The group’s board has been actively pursuing a formal sale process since October 2025. It is the second attempt at a sale, following a previous effort in 2024. At that time, the group opted to restructure the business through emergency fundraising and the closing of 18 sites.
The Revel Collective rejected a previous offer from investment group Nightcap on the basis that the proposal was “incapable of being delivered”.
The group previously predicted that the alcohol duty rise, and the increase in both employees’ National Insurance contributions and the minimum wage, would cause £4 million (US$4.94m) damage to its business.
The Revel Collective operates 62 sites under the Revolution, Revolución de Cuba, Founders & Co, and Peach Pubs brands. In its 2024 financial statement, it revealed the group employed 3,094 people.
Reflecting on whether the company is likely to be acquired while in administration, Michael Lynch, partner at city law DMH Stallard and restructuring and insolvency specialist, said: “It is perhaps not surprising in this current market that, after what should be a busy trading period for pubs and bars such as Revolution, a potential purchaser, with sight of Revel Collective’s books and records by way of an NDA, decided not to proceed with a purchase.
“It likely saw that there was general creditor pressure (probably from lenders) and that formal administration was in the offing; understandably, any purchaser would prefer to buy a business without debt than be burdened by it.
“In such circumstances, it would be unusual – not impossible – for trade creditors to see any benefit out of an administration process.
“From a legal perspective, administration can be a reset for a business and put it onto a stronger footing going forward; if a purchase of the business does take place, it can save jobs and reinvigorate the business.”
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