Companies That You Expect to Disappear Soon

[jon0844]

I do think the chain restaurants have reached a very dangerous tipping point in terms of putting prices up

Me and the mother went to Nandos the other day, 2 small starters, 2 chicken mains with a couple of sides each and 2 drinks...and £50 lighter!

(As others have said; I replied before seeing some other replies saying the same thing) So many of these places are now typical private equity owned/run organisations, and they do these stupid prices because they also do loads of discounts and offers - which is very much the same as the Tesco idea of having your regular (Clubcard) prices and then inflated prices for those without.

If you want a nice meal on a weekend (including Friday), you'll be expected to stump up the 'full' price unless you've got some sort of discounted restaurant card, some points on your loyalty card (check they can be used at weekends) or some sort of employer discount gift card offers etc.

Because these offers exist, it's tempting to make the base price more expensive - which then penalises those who just want to go to a restaurant on a whim without planning and researching in advance. I am the mug that still tries to research the deals, but my wife and son are often just hungry and want to eat somewhere close by - which is probably why people just end up paying over the odds because, quite rightly, it shouldn't require the sort of research you might put into booking a summer holiday, buying a new car or getting a mortgage.

Even Five Guys, which people seem to generally accept as expensive, seem to be toning down the 'free chips' that was their standard practice to make people feel like they were getting something for nothing. Apparently they're becoming more tight, which might harm their reputation even though, ironically, you used to get way more chips than you wanted or needed.. it just felt like you weren't being ripped off because you got so much food (likewise, being able to load up the burger further adds a feeling of value even if the salads are cheap). How long until they start to restrict the amount of toppings on a burger? For me, that will be when a lot of people may say enough is enough. Maybe they're banking on me being wrong.

I forget when I had my very first Nandos (decades ago in Reading I think, when they were still rare and it was a case of telling all your friends about this wonderful place that was cheap and had unlimited refills etc) but now it isn't cheap, and you pay a fortune for that refillable drink that you probably won't refill at all, or at most once, unless it's the hottest day of the year or you went for the hot sauce.

I think people are starting to see what's happening, especially with the supermarkets, with 'regular' prices that are excessive to make deals look better than they are.

That said, I don't think Nandos will fail. They're always busy and I'm sure they're able to gradually increase prices and reduce value without people noticing. They do at least seem to have a pretty good loyalty scheme, and I might be wrong but I think you can also redeem points for free food at any time. As such, it's expensive but at least you aren't going to go away feeling you got ripped off because you didn't spend two hours online checking for offers.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jan 2026 ==

Who has ever let them touch their engine? No-one, that's who. But no one ever gets a receipt, and there's plenty of scope to say lots of people have had an engine wash, and launder money. See also, certain barber shops that have popped up everywhere. They are a wing of organised crime.

Absolutely. These places will be banking a small fortune even if empty all day.

Now, most barbers (and car washes) aren't empty all day, and some even have queues, but some also take cards and are likely more legitimate.. but I think the dodgy ones stand out. You know what's going on. The authorities know what's going on. They launder the money made from crime, which affects us all, but nobody really seems to want to do anything about it.

(Now there are other scams like the snail farms all over London, which also seem to be allowed to continue by those in power who may well be profiting from such scams themselves, or know friends and family that are).

 

[whoosh]

Absolutely. These places will be banking a small fortune even if empty all day.

Now, most barbers (and car washes) aren't empty all day, and some even have queues, but some also take cards and are likely more legitimate.. but I think the dodgy ones stand out. You know what's going on. The authorities know what's going on. They launder the money made from crime, which affects us all, but nobody really seems to want to do anything about it.

(Now there are other scams like the snail farms all over London, which also seem to be allowed to continue by those in power who may well be profiting from such scams themselves, or know friends and family that are).

Take payment on a card for a £20 polish. Don't issue a receipt. Put down in account book, customer part paid by card for a £50 engine clean, but the only extra cleaning done is £30 of dodgy cash!

 

[jon81uk]

I actually don't think that's bad - starter, main, sides, drinks for £25pp isn't that bad. Nando's also do pretty good deals for just mains and sides.

I was saying to my partner last night that I think this is one of the chains which will continue to do well.

I think Nando's also does well because they don't discount and mess about. The price is the same across the country (as far as I know) and every day of the week, no need to search for voucher codes because there aren't any. So its predictable and reliable.

The chains which suffer are the ones who have a higher starting price, but do endless promotional vouchers giving 25/33/50% off the price of food if you sign up to their mailing list etc.

If somewhere has discounts all the time then I start to question the full price and whether it is worthwhile, Pizza Express killed off the idea of full price to me about ten years ago because there was a special offer available almost all the time, so if I couldn't find a discount then I didn't go there because I felt the menu price is just inflated to make the discounts work.
As above, this is where I think Nando's have done well, there are never discount vouchers so I know the menu price is as good as it will get so take it or leave it.

My sort-of exception is where it feels obvious why there is a voucher, for example we went to Toby Carvery this week as it was £6 Monday to Friday for January. This is a slow time of year especially weekdays so it makes sense to discount weekday meals and its quite time limited.

And some of those pizza deals offered by the likes of Dominos are rubbish if you only want the one pizza. Buy one, get one free is OK if you are ordering for 2 or more people, but hopeless if you are eating alone.

Although most have added a fixed delivery fee, part of the reason the deals always come out to £15-25 or more for a couple of pizzas and sides is because the delivery is a large part of the cost. For a single pizza collection will offer the best deal, but for delivery most places aren't interested for less than £15, even if the actual minimum order is lower the deals will try to get you to spend £15-20. As we are a household of two we are always looking to get a large or two smaller pizzas and sides and have been spending £15-25 on that for the last twenty years, pizza delivery from Domino's and similar does seem to have generally kept below inflation, I was paying £15-20 for a meal for two twenty years ago and £20-25 for a meal for two recently. Inflation should of taken that to over £30 really.

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 16 Jan 2026 ==

I forget when I had my very first Nandos (decades ago in Reading I think, when they were still rare and it was a case of telling all your friends about this wonderful place that was cheap and had unlimited refills etc) but now it isn't cheap, and you pay a fortune for that refillable drink that you probably won't refill at all, or at most once, unless it's the hottest day of the year or you went for the hot sauce.

Th unlimited drink prices are in line with most other restaurants and a better deal that those that don't offer refills. £3.85-4.25 seems to be the common price at most places for a refill drink including Five Guys, so I don't feel like Nando's are charging a fortune, Pizza Express and many other places charge similar for a single bottle!
I think the meal prices have jumped up in price in the last five years, but there was also very little price increase in the 2010s really. I still think £15 for half chicken and two sides is a reasonable value and in line with what I'd pay at menu price in a lot of other places.

 

[styles]

I think Nando's also does well because they don't discount and mess about. The price is the same across the country (as far as I know) and every day of the week, no need to search for voucher codes because there aren't any. So its predictable and reliable.

Yeah and I also expect it's a low cost business model. The menu is basically chicken and sides, cooks in a handful of minutes, etc.

They do some discounts like student discount but yeah, not loads.

I think they also just know their place in the market - more expensive than a cheap fried chicken shop, cheaper than most sit-down restaurants doing freshly cooked food. Service is quick, food is decent but nothing special. I choose Nando's sometimes because I want a sit-down meal but I don't have a huge amount of time. It's also lean and high-protein (well, until you add chips!) which ticks a lot of boxes for people these days.

 

[jon0844]

Take payment on a card for a £20 polish. Don't issue a receipt. Put down in account book, customer part paid by card for a £50 engine clean, but the only extra cleaning done is £30 of dodgy cash!

It was more about some places actually being genuine and a place that takes cards being more likely to be legit. I don't think every barber is dodgy, but at the same time they might all engage in dodgy practices.

While some places are banking huge sums to launder cash, others are possibly happy to only take cash but bank very little to avoid taxes.

A local kebab van takes card but does everything to discourage payments that way, giving excuses about it not working etc - but if you say 'sorry that's all I've got (card) so I'll have to go elsewhere' it miraculously starts working again!

 

[Kite159]

My sort-of exception is where it feels obvious why there is a voucher, for example we went to Toby Carvery this week as it was £6 Monday to Friday for January. This is a slow time of year especially weekdays so it makes sense to discount weekday meals and its quite time limited.

Toby tend to do a few midweek offers, considering these days how much of a premium some charge for weekends.

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Give me a refillable drink anyday, at least if you need some more drink it's not a case of having to flag down a member of staff to buy another bottle etc

 

[cactustwirly]

It appears P&O ferries are not doing so well

ITV news reported that the losses have got worse, they have been in decline for a while, closing routes. And with existing routes like Dover to Calais they are no longer the dominant operator - that's now DFDS.

Costa Coffee are also in trouble, Coca-Cola are trying to sell but are not getting a good enough price.

Quite frankly their coffee is expensive and quite frankly crap. Much rather go to an independent place which I know has better beans

 

[jon0844]

I never used to have a problem with Costa Coffee, but since Coke took over they've slapped Costa on anything and everything, and Costas have sprung up all over the world. It would not surprise me if standards have fallen, especially when they're licensing the brand name.

 

[jon81uk]

Costa Coffee are also in trouble, Coca-Cola are trying to sell but are not getting a good enough price.

Quite frankly their coffee is expensive and quite frankly crap. Much rather go to an independent place which I know has better beans

Coke’s main issue is they significantly overpaid for Costa when they bought it from Whitbread.

I don’t think Costa is really in trouble, just Coke realised it wasn’t the best purchase so want to cut their losses and run.

 

[Welly]

It appears P&O ferries are not doing so well

ITV news reported that the losses have got worse, they have been in decline for a while, closing routes. And with existing routes like Dover to Calais they are no longer the dominant operator - that's now DFDS.

Good! It deserves to go under since that awful day when they sacked European crew members en-masse to replace them with cheaper non European crew members. At least one YouTube travel blogger has admitted boycotting P&O Ferries.

 

[Djgr]

Coke’s main issue is they significantly overpaid for Costa when they bought it from Whitbread.

I don’t think Costa is really in trouble, just Coke realised it wasn’t the best purchase so want to cut their losses and run.

I think most chains become jaded over time and people move on to other chains (or independents).

Hard to see anyone getting excited about going to Costa (not least because the entirety of their food offer is so lame)

== Doublepost prevention - post automatically merged: 17 Jan 2026 ==

Good! It deserves to go under since that awful day when they sacked European crew members en-masse to replace them with cheaper non European crew members. At least one YouTube travel blogger has admitted boycotting P&O Ferries.

Nice to see karma in action for once

 

[3rd rail land]

Good! It deserves to go under since that awful day when they sacked European crew members en-masse to replace them with cheaper non European crew members. At least one YouTube travel blogger has admitted boycotting P&O Ferries.

They might be British but I would be happy to see them go bust. They clearly don't care about their staff one jot and give Britain a bad rep. Seems like they lost more than they saved with this stunt.

 

[Leyland Bus]

CF Booths going into administration is not one I'd have thought off, though after unimetals, may'be not so surprising??

Metal recycler CF Booth appoints administrators - letsrecycle.com

CF Booth has entered administration, due to “significant trading difficulties” that were exacerbated by wider economic factors.

www.letsrecycle.com

Metal recycler CF Booth has entered administration, due to “significant trading difficulties” that were cited as having been exacerbated by rising energy and copper prices.



Increases to the National Living Wage, the impact of environmental legislation, VAT and HSE penalties and other regulatory pressures were also given as reasons for the appointment of James Lumb and Howard Smith from Interpath as administrators.



According to a statement from Interpath, the company’s directors had explored a number of options to stabilise the business, including potential sale and reinvestment opportunities.



However, with no solvent outcome available, the directors ultimately filed a Notice of Intention to Appoint Administrators.

 

[Twingo37175]

CF Booths going into administration is not one I'd have thought off, though after unimetals, may'be not so surprising??

Being discussed here https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...goes-into-administration.297499/#post-7637765

As I understand it, it is the death of Ken Booth and the family wanting to sell the business (and land) as against a loss of trading.

 

[Leyland Bus]

Being discussed here https://www.railforums.co.uk/thread...goes-into-administration.297499/#post-7637765

As I understand it, it is the death of Ken Booth and the family wanting to sell the business (and land) as against a loss of trading.

Apologies, missed that one! Thanks!

 

[signed]

ITV news reported that the losses have got worse, they have been in decline for a while, closing routes. And with existing routes like Dover to Calais they are no longer the dominant operator - that's now DFDS.

They might be British but I would be happy to see them go bust. They clearly don't care about their staff one jot and give Britain a bad rep. Seems like they lost more than they saved with this stunt.

Good riddance

Brittany Ferries (no it's not an ad) has shown that, despite a very bad bow of financial issues in the previous years, you can absolutely run a maritime transport company under high labour cost (all their ships are French flagged), for a better experience and less expensive onboard prices on top of it.

Had a starter-meat main-dessert for 12.5€ on the, lovely though dated, Pont-Aven when I did it from Cork. And a pint of draught Moretti for 5€ (cheaper than most Parisian bars ). And the crossing was 130€ one way foot with an inside cabin.

 

[david1212]

A leading UK pub chain has collapsed putting more than 3,000 jobs at risk. The Revel Collective, which runs dozens of pubs across the country under the Peach Pubs brand, has filed for administration after previously warning about the damaging impact of Labour’s tax raid.

https://uk.finance.yahoo.com/news/more-3-000-jobs-risk-174901347.html

A total of 62 venues are under threat as a result of the company’s failure, including more than 20 sites tied to the Peach Pubs brand. Revel also owns Revolution bars and Revolucion de Cuba.

The collapse follows years of turbulent trading for Revel, formerly known as Revolution Bar Group, which has racked up £36m of losses in the last four years.

Pressure on the business has escalated over the past year after the Chancellor increased taxes. As well as increasing employer National Insurance costs and business rates, Ms Reeves also uprated the minimum wage. Revel previously said the costs were “regressive and offer no clear pathway for economic growth within the hospitality sector”.

A widespread outcry over the future of Britain’s struggling pubs has prompted the Chancellor to draw up plans for an emergency rescue package, which is expected to be announced this week.
Details of her intervention emerged just days after The Telegraph launched a campaign to save British pubs.
According to figures from global tax firm Ryan, the UK lost an average of one pub a day last year.

Not one of this chain but the Sunday before Christmas I pre-booked a lunch for 4 at a pub / restaurant. The 3-course meal was around £25 each. Two others nearby were charging around £30.

It was very quiet. We had not been here pre-2020 but all that we did use were busy if not full. Since 2020 the choice of venues has declined, time will tell if this one is still trading this December.

 

[styles]

Well I didn't expect this one.

Alpkit has apparently called in administrators.

A shame really. I have some decent Alpkit gear. I wonder if trying to both manufacture gear and run high street shops is just a failing formula for outdoor brands.

 

[Lewisham2221]

Well I didn't expect this one.

Alpkit has apparently called in administrators.

A shame really. I have some decent Alpkit gear. I wonder if trying to both manufacture gear and run high street shops is just a failing formula for outdoor brands.

Running high street shops feels like a failing formula for pretty much any brand these days

 

[Peter Sarf]

Running high street shops feels like a failing formula for pretty much any brand these days

And food/pubs. Basically all of on street retail and catering seem to be up against it.

 

[Tetchytyke]

A leading UK pub chain has collapsed putting more than 3,000 jobs at risk. The Revel Collective, which runs dozens of pubs across the country under the Peach Pubs brand, has filed for administration after previously warning about the damaging impact of Labour’s tax raid.

20% stake held by Luke Johnson, who served as Chairman.

You may have heard of him from previous pre-pack administrations including that of Patisserie Valerie, a collapse which was so bad it attracted the attention of the Serious Fraud Office.

He was also a former owner of Giraffe and Pizza Express, both of which came very close to folding under the weight of private equity debt.

 

[Bald Rick]

You may have heard of him from previous pre-pack administrations including that of Patisserie Valerie, a collapse which was so bad it attracted the attention of the Serious Fraud Office.

Not just the attention of the SFO… the trial of the former Finance Director, his wife and two others begins in March. He lived not very far from me.

 

[H F Stephens]

Revel Collective is/was having to service £140m of debt according to its last accounts, equating to just over £2m per site.

Stonegate, with c£3.6bn of debt to service, is running on about £800k per site, which itself is considered unsustainable.

These kinds of company, at their scale, are of course the principal drivers of high profile lobbying against Government, with the specious claim that the ‘Great British Pub’ is imperilled by political interference.

There are many socio-economic demand-side dynamics at play in the hospitality industry, but it’s arguable whether the bigger challenge to the average independent business is really HM Treasury or actually the drink-dumping, property-hogging might of Heineken, Stonegate, Revel et al (and the small number of insanely wealthy individuals who head them).

 

[johntea]

They've already started shutting venues with immediate effect by the looks of things

Popular bar chain closes venues across the UK, including Yorkshire sites - full list

Beloved spots are disappearing from high streets as rising costs reshape how the UK goes out

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

Revolution bars closing​

• Cardiff
• Durham
• Exeter
• Glasgow (Renfield Street)
• Huddersfield
• Ipswich
• Leeds (Electric Press)
• Leicester
• Manchester (Oxford Road)
• Manchester (Parsonage Gardens)
• Nottingham
• Plymouth
• Preston
• Sheffield

Revolucion de Cuba bars closing​

• Aberdeen
• Cardiff
• Derby
• Harrogate
• Liverpool
• Reading

Peach Pub closing​

• Kenilworth – The Almanack

There are the financials of course but I think since the pandemic in particular when people were forced to stay at home the target market just got rather used to buying a load of cheap booze from the supermarket and a takeaway then having a 'night in night out' and never really went back to a 'night out', instead these days they seem to be far more attracted to going out during the day for a 'bottomless brunch' (and making the most of the 'unlimited' drinks!) and back home before the night is young

 

[styles]

They've already started shutting venues with immediate effect by the looks of things

Popular bar chain closes venues across the UK, including Yorkshire sites - full list

Beloved spots are disappearing from high streets as rising costs reshape how the UK goes out

www.yorkshirepost.co.uk

There are the financials of course but I think since the pandemic in particular when people were forced to stay at home the target market just got rather used to buying a load of cheap booze from the supermarket and a takeaway then having a 'night in night out' and never really went back to a 'night out', instead these days they seem to be far more attracted to going out during the day for a 'bottomless brunch' (and making the most of the 'unlimited' drinks!) and back home before the night is young

To be honest I've always preferred takeaway and drinks at someone's house than going to bars. I think I get a bit overstimulated but then as the night gets on also a bit bored of just dancing and not really being able to hear people. A large group of us left our works Christmas party after the meal and a drink or two because it was just too loud to have a conversation, which is really what most of us wanted either because it's the first time meeting face to face or because working from home is so prevalent and people wanted a catch up.

At least at home if you're living it up in the front room, you can go to the kitchen to have a chat, or play games, or watch TV or something which isn't just really loud music.

This applied even when I was at uni. I went clubbing like most do, but I always preferred a house party, or even ordering pizza and watching the Superbowl to take the mick out of the silly sport.

Revs for me never really hit a sweet spot. It was more expensive than most other bars, but also not unique or classy enough as the bars charging the same as they were. So it was expensive drinks for average atmosphere. I'd rather go either to a cheap bar to save money, or an independent bar for a better vibe and character. Come to think of it, it's probably over a decade since I set foot in a Revs bar.

 

[Halwynd]

20% stake held by Luke Johnson, who served as Chairman.

You may have heard of him from previous pre-pack administrations including that of Patisserie Valerie, a collapse which was so bad it attracted the attention of the Serious Fraud Office.

He was also a former owner of Giraffe and Pizza Express, both of which came very close to folding under the weight of private equity debt.

Many years ago he had a weekly column in The Sunday Times offering his opinions and advice about running businesses.

You couldn't make it up.

 

[Tetchytyke]

Stonegate, with c£3.6bn of debt to service, is running on about £800k per site, which itself is considered unsustainable.

These kinds of company, at their scale, are of course the principal drivers of high profile lobbying against Government, with the specious claim that the ‘Great British Pub’ is imperilled by political interference.

Stonegate is owned by the same hedge fund which owns Asda.

Many years ago he had a weekly column in The Sunday Times offering his opinions and advice about running businesses.

You couldn't make it up.

I remember him being on one of those 'Back to the Floor' documentaries in the early 2000s, where the bosses go and do the jobs of their normal staff. When the staff told him a few home truths about the appalling working conditions, he flounced off.

 

[Broucek]

20% stake held by Luke Johnson, who served as Chairman.

You may have heard of him from previous pre-pack administrations including that of Patisserie Valerie, a collapse which was so bad it attracted the attention of the Serious Fraud Office.

He was also a former owner of Giraffe and Pizza Express, both of which came very close to folding under the weight of private equity debt.

Given the prices in Patisserie Valerie and that it tended to be fairly full, I could never understand how it was doing so badly....

I'm a pretty hard core capitalis but I struggle with the PE industry which has moved away from the socially and economically useful function of turning businesses around towards a zero sum game of financial engineering. Loading up with debt worked when interest rates were near zero. Less so recently....

 

[SuspectUsual]

Given the prices in Patisserie Valerie and that it tended to be fairly full, I could never understand how it was doing so badly....

Based on feedback from my parents, who used to quite like it there:

1 - a lot of people on massively discounted groupon type offers

2 - “it’s amazing how long a pot of tea can last”

 

[Kite159]

And it doesn't help that some younger people are turning away from alcohol, although I can't find the news story I saw the other day which gave a figure of those who haven't drunk within the last year.