MeatLiquor, a prominent UK burger chain, has announced a significant downsizing, closing all but two of its UK restaurants. This decision follows the company bringing in advisers to assist with a major restructuring effort aimed at navigating tough economic challenges.
The chain has shuttered five of its locations, leaving just two restaurants operational: one in Oxford Circus and another in East Dulwich. Additionally, the group’s sister venue, the BLOODsports bar in Covent Garden, remains open.
Recent closures include branches in Islington, Clapham Junction, Queensway, Brighton, and Leeds. The Leeds team expressed the financial pressures on social media, stating, “Cost of living up. Cost of beef up. Cost of EVERYTHING up.”
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Founder Scott Collins spoke candidly to Restaurant Online about the widespread difficulties facing the industry: “We’re in the same position as a lot of others in the industry and I’m just getting ahead of things before we’re forced to. On top of VAT, rates, beef and energy costs, we’ve now got a new war creating uncertainty and more tube strikes to deal with.”
MeatLiquor began as a London street food van, launched by Collins and Yianni Papoutsis, with its first restaurant opening in Marylebone in 2011. By 2018, the brand operated 11 outlets, including Meat Mission in Hoxton and Meat Market in Covent Garden.
Last year, Collins shared with The Telegraph that the business was struggling financially, unable to foresee making any profit in the upcoming year despite plans to open a new site.
In a recent statement, MeatLiquor expressed gratitude to its customers and staff: “Thank you to everyone who has supported, visited and worked for us. We’re now closed for good, but you can still find us in London. Same chaos, different postcode.”
Previously, the group ran seven locations in London, alongside venues in Brighton and Leeds, underscoring the marked contraction the brand is now experiencing.