A number of UK businesses have been forced to close their doors or call in administrators in 2026
2026 has proved to be a bruising year for UK businesses, with many forced to shut up shop or call in administrators. Adding to the growing list of casualties, a well-loved restaurant, a pizza company, and a travel agency have all filed for administration.
There are numerous reasons a company might take this step in a bid to salvage all or part of the business. Most commonly, it comes down to rising costs — such as soaring energy bills — or a drop in customer spending and footfall.
Here’s a round-up of some of the retail administration stories you may have missed in recent weeks:
Maroush
London-based Lebanese restaurant chain Maroush, which operates six branches across the capital, has collapsed into administration. According to a notice published in The London Gazette, Maroush Group Limited was placed into administration on June 12, 2026. The appointment was made through the High Court of Justice.
The restaurant chain was founded by Lebanese couple Marouf and Houda Abouzaki after they relocated to London during the Lebanese Civil War, opening their first restaurant on Edgware Road back in 1981.
Licensed insolvency practitioners Nick Parsk and Carrie James of Oury Clark Chartered Accountants have been appointed as joint administrators to manage the company’s affairs.
Strachan Travel Ltd
After 40 years in business, Lancashire-based travel firm Strachan Travel has formally entered voluntary liquidation, with all holiday packages understood to have been cancelled.
Resolutions to wind up the business were passed on June 11, with joint liquidators formally appointed on June 16, according to documents published in The Gazette.
The notice states “that the Company be wound up voluntarily and that Richard Ian Williamson and Francesca Vivace, both of Campbell, Crossley & Davis, be appointed as Joint Liquidators for the purposes of such voluntary winding up.”
The firm’s website appears to have gone dark following the liquidation, sparking concerns amongst customers who may have upcoming trips booked through the travel agency.
JRL Brickwork
UK brickwork contractor JRL Brickwork is amongst the businesses to have fallen into administration in recent weeks. The construction firm describes itself as a company that “coordinates the efforts of around 300 contractors around the country at any one time.”
Lee Morris and John Thompson, both of Marshall Peters, will now oversee the day-to-day running of the company.
It remains unclear precisely what triggered the move, though last month The Business Desk reported that JRL had lodged a notice of intention to appoint administrators through a law firm, suggesting the company was weighing up its options while attempting to shore up its finances.
Lighthouse Travel Ltd
Lighthouse Travel, a coach operator providing school transport and private hire services, has gone into liquidation after ceasing trading amid tough economic conditions.
Previously trading as Island Coach Services Ltd, the firm stopped operating in November after providing services to customers on the Isle of Wight and throughout the south coast since 2020.
The business, which focused on executive private hire and school transport contracts, announced its closure in a statement posted on its website, blaming the challenging economic climate.
Felldale Retail
Following 43 years of trading, Felldale Retail, which ran multiple Lakeland Leather branches across the UK, went into voluntary liquidation in May, according to The Gazette.
The company, which was established in 2014, ran Lakeland Leather shops throughout the UK as a subsidiary of Lakeland Fashion Limited. Its demise comes after the closure of numerous stores belonging to the leather brand in recent months, including outlets in Kendal and Carlisle in Cumbria.
A spokesperson for the clothing brand said: “I can confirm Lakeland Fashion has now placed its subsidiary, Felldale Retail Limited, into liquidation as part of an orderly wind-up of its affairs. Felldale had previously announced [the] closure of seven underperforming stores. Now the stores are closed, the liquidation phase is the next step and relates solely to the legacy store portfolio.”
The spokesperson added that Lakeland Limited as an overall brand “continues to trade profitably.”
Millennium Dough Company
Millennium Dough Company has shut up shop after 34 years of trading, leaving creditors out of pocket to the tune of over £1 million. The West London-based firm had built its reputation on producing wholesale artisan frozen pizza dough.
According to The Gazette, administrators Nicholas Charles Simmonds and Chris Newell of Quantuma Advisory Limited were brought in on June 8. They have assumed control of the business in a bid to salvage it or secure a better outcome for creditors than an outright liquidation would provide.
The firm, which previously traded under the name Millennium Food Service, will leave a loyal customer base deeply disappointed by its closure.
