Two branded cocktail bars in Glasgow and Aberdeen are among the sites set to close after the owner of Revolution bars entered administration, underlining the intense pressure on Scotland’s late‑night hospitality sector.
The Revel Collective, which owns the Revolution, Revolución de Cuba, Founders & Co and Peach Pubs brands, has appointed joint administrators Lindsay Hallam, Matthew Callaghan and Oliver Wright of FTI Consulting LLP. The notice read: “Immediately on appointment, the Administrators completed two sale transactions for the business and assets of the Group: (i) a sale of Revolution, Revolucion de Cuba and Founders & Co to Neos Holdco Limited and certain of its subsidiaries, trading as Neos Hospitality and (ii) a sale of Peach pubs to Coral Pub Company Acquisition Limited, founded by Ted Kennedy. The transactions secure the continuation of 20 Revolution, Revolucion de Cuba and Founders & Co bars and 21 Peach pubs and protect 1,582 jobs across the sites and central support function. Regrettably 14 Revolution, six Revolucion de Cuba and one Peach site did not form part of the transaction and those sites are being closed with immediate effect impacting 591 employees.”
In Scotland, the Revolution bar on Renfield Street in Glasgow and the Revolución de Cuba venue in Aberdeen are among those shutting their doors, removing two well‑known late‑night destinations from key city‑centre circuits. The group had already undergone a major restructuring in 2024, closing 15 under‑performing bars in an effort to improve trading performance, but a subsequent strategic review led to the company being put up for sale amid weaker spending by younger customers, higher operating costs and a rising debt burden.
The closures also come in the wake of the UK Chancellor’s latest business rates package for England, which promises permanently lower rates for hundreds of thousands of retail, hospitality and leisure properties south of the border, easing the tax burden on many pubs and late‑night venues there. Scottish trade bodies warn the move risks widening an already stark competitiveness gap, leaving pubs and late‑night venues north of the border facing relatively higher tax bills at a time of fragile consumer demand and rising wage and energy costs.
Commenting on the Chancellor’s announcement and its implications for Scotland, Paul Togneri of the Scottish Beer & Pub Association (SBPA) said:
“Pubs across Scotland urgently need additional support. While we welcomed the reliefs announced in the Scottish Budget earlier this month, they simply do not go far enough. Without further action, many pubs will struggle to keep their doors open, and we risk losing jobs in communities across the country.
“Even before the UK Chancellor’s announcement today, Scottish pubs were already facing significantly higher business rates bills due to the new lower poundage rate in England. The additional support announced today will now widen that gap further, making it even harder to attract investment into Scotland’s pub and brewing sector.
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“The Scottish Government will receive additional funding as a result of this change. It is vital that Shona Robison honours her commitment to pass this on – and goes further – to protect pubs, safeguard jobs, and support an industry that is central to Scotland’s social and economic fabric.”
For Scotland’s late‑night economy, the loss of two high‑profile branded bars, a widening business rates gap with England and a fragile consumer backdrop all point to a sector still very much in survival mode, with industry figures warning that this week’s closures may be a sign of more to come.
