Revolution Bars Closing: 600 Jobs Lost as UK Nightlife Falls Out of Favour With Young Drinkers

Revolution Bars is to close 21 venues across the UK and cut almost 600 jobs after its owner entered administration, highlighting the mounting pressures facing the hospitality sector and shifting social habits among younger drinkers.

The closures, confirmed this week, will result in the loss of 591 roles after parent company The Revel Collective failed to secure new funding. Administrators said a significant part of the business has been sold, but a number of sites were not included in the rescue deals and have closed with immediate effect.

The move comes as bars and late-night venues grapple with rising operating costs, weaker consumer spending and declining footfall, particularly among younger customers. Industry groups say the difficulties facing Revolution reflect broader challenges across Britain's night-time economy.

Closures Confirmed After Administration

The Revel Collective entered administration earlier this week, triggering the shutdown of 14 Revolution Bars, six Revolución de Cuba venues and one pub operated under its Peach Pubs division. Administrators FTI Consulting said the affected sites were not viable under the terms of the new ownership arrangements.

At the same time, deals were agreed to preserve a large part of the business. The Revolution and Revolución de Cuba brands have been sold to Neos Hospitality Group, while the Peach Pubs business has been acquired by Coral Pub Company. The transactions have secured the future of 41 venues and protected around 1,582 jobs.

The group had warned earlier this month that it intended to appoint administrators within ten business days unless its financial position improved. Shareholders were also told that any sale was likely to wipe out existing equity.

Financial Pressures and Weaker Trading

The Revel Collective had been struggling with declining revenues and rising debts. In the three months to September, the company reported a 7.4 per cent fall in revenue to £26.3 million (approximately $34.7 million), while total debt rose to £25.3 million (around $33.4 million).

A major restructuring in 2024 led to the closure of 15 unprofitable sites, but the measures failed to stabilise the business. The company launched a strategic review last autumn and formally put itself up for sale in October.

Senior executives said at the time that trading had been weaker than expected, with younger customers spending less on nights out. That trend has continued across much of the hospitality sector, where operators report lower footfall and reduced late-night spending.

Changing Habits Reshape UK Nightlife

Revolution Bars was once a staple of UK nightlife, particularly among students and young professionals, with a focus on cocktails, vodka drinks and late opening hours in town and city centres.

However, hospitality bodies say social habits are changing. Younger consumers are increasingly choosing to socialise at home or spend disposable income on alternative leisure activities, rather than traditional late-night drinking. The pandemic is widely seen as accelerating those shifts.

The loss of almost 600 jobs is expected to have a local impact in towns and cities affected by the closures, particularly among bar staff and night-time workers. While the sale of part of the business has preserved many roles, industry observers say the shutdowns underline the vulnerability of hospitality firms operating in a tougher economic environment.

The partial collapse of the Revolution estate marks another setback for the UK's night-time economy, as established brands struggle to adapt to changing consumer behaviour and sustained financial pressure.