2026 has proven to be a challenging year for UK businesses, with many forced to close their doors or call in administrators. Adding to the growing list of casualties, a well-loved restaurant chain, a pizza dough supplier, and a travel agency have all filed for administration.
Companies may take this step to salvage all or part of the business, often due to rising costs such as soaring energy bills or a drop in customer spending and footfall. Here is a round-up of recent retail administration stories you may have missed.
Maroush
London-based Lebanese restaurant chain Maroush, which operates six branches across the capital, has collapsed into administration. According to a notice in The London Gazette, Maroush Group Limited was placed into administration on June 12, 2026, through the High Court of Justice. The 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 in 1981. Licensed insolvency practitioners Nick Parsk and Carrie James of Oury Clark Chartered Accountants have been appointed as joint administrators.
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, and joint liquidators were formally appointed on June 16, according to documents in The Gazette. The firm's website has gone dark following the liquidation, sparking concerns among customers with upcoming trips.
JRL Brickwork
UK brickwork contractor JRL Brickwork has entered administration. The construction firm coordinates around 300 contractors nationwide. Lee Morris and John Thompson of Marshall Peters will oversee the day-to-day running of the company. The trigger for the move is unclear, though last month The Business Desk reported that JRL had lodged a notice of intention to appoint administrators.
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 serving customers on the Isle of Wight and the south coast since 2020. The business cited the challenging economic climate in its closure announcement.
Felldale Retail
After 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, established in 2014, operated Lakeland Leather shops as a subsidiary of Lakeland Fashion Limited. Its demise follows the closure of several stores in recent months, including outlets in Kendal and Carlisle. A spokesperson said the liquidation relates solely to the legacy store portfolio and that Lakeland Limited continues to trade profitably.
Millennium Dough Company
Millennium Dough Company has shut up shop after 34 years of trading, leaving creditors out of pocket by over £1 million. The West London-based firm produced 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 to salvage the business or secure a better outcome for creditors. The firm previously traded under the name Millennium Food Service.
