Cafe Rouge Owner Goes into Administration

Published on : 8th August, 2024

Cafe Rouge Owner Goes into Administration

12 July 2020

It has been reported that Epiris, the buyout firm, is having detailed talks with administrators about buying Casual Dining Group.

A deal is yet to be finalised, but is expected in the coming days.

Elliott Advisors have also shared interest in purchasing the group.


3 July 2020

Bella Italia and Café Rouge owner, Casual Dining Group, has gone into administration. This has meant 91 outlets to close immediately and 1,900 of the 6,000 staff to lose their jobs.

The 91 restaurants are located mainly in England, with a few in Scotland and Wales. The remaining 159 of the groups 250 outlets will remain open.

Administrators, Alix Partners, are looking for any interested parties to make offers for all, or part of the business.

It is reported that already multiple offers have been received of which the business hopes to pursue in efforts to rescue itself.

Chief executive, James Spragg said: ‘’We are acutely aware of our duty to all employees and recognise that this is an incredibly difficult time for them.’’

He stresses he will do all he can, working alongside and supporting the administrators, aiming to preserve as much employment as possible.

The ‘’extreme operating environment’’ for the casual dining sector, among others, due to coronavirus forcing restaurants to shut since the start of March, is blamed.

The full list of Casual Dining Group closures

  • Bella Italia
  • Newbury
  • East Kilbride
  • Baker Street
  • Cambridge
  • Cheltenham Prom
  • Soton Above Bar
  • Blackpool Church
  • Watford
  • Plymouth
  • Dunfermline
  • Islington
  • Gloucester Quays
  • Hatfield
  • Southend
  • Didsbury
  • Solihull
  • Brighton Belotta
  • Windsor
  • Manchester Deansgate
  • Camberley Atrium
  • Aberdeen
  • Loughborough
  • Crewe
  • Colliers Wood
  • Brighton Marina
  • Cardiff
  • Shaftesbury Ave
  • Hemel Hempstead
  • Leeds
  • Silverlink
  • Bexley
  • New Brighton
  • Orpington
  • Manchester Piccadilly
  • Café Rouge
  • Bury St Edmonds
  • Newbury
  • Maidstone Earl St
  • Solihull
  • Pinner
  • Blackheath
  • Harborne Birmingh
  • Leamington Spa
  • York
  • Dulwich
  • Epsom
  • Birmingham Mailbox
  • Woking
  • Hitchin
  • Oxford
  • Leicester
  • Chester
  • Cheltenham
  • Loughton
  • Chelmsford
  • Cambridge
  • Edinburgh
  • Southgate
  • Esher
  • Bromley
  • Salisbury
  • Canterbury Long
  • Trafford Centre
  • Exeter Princesshay
  • Hertford
  • Milton Keynes
  • Las Iguanas
  • Harrogate
  • Brighton Marina
  • Derby
  • Sheffield
  • Woking
  • Chester
  • Brunswick Square
  • Braintree
  • Bournemouth
  • Norwich
  • Newcastle
  • Belgo
  • Belgo Kingsway
  • Belgo Nottingham
  • Belgo Centraal
  • Airport sites
  • Café Rouge Rapide Inverness Airport
  • Bristol Airport
  • The George Ale & Coffee House (T5)
  • The Darwin Ale & Coffee House (T3)
  • Jersey Airport
  • Oriel Luton
  • Oriel Heathrow T4
  • La Salle Heathrow T2
  • Bella Italia Luton
  • Oriel Heathrow T3
  • Huxleus Heathrow T5
  • The Shipyard Jersey

What Administration Means for You

While this news develops, here is a quick guide to the legal realities of the administration process.

The Process: Administration is a legal “moratorium” that protects insolvent companies from creditor action. Licensed Insolvency Practitioners take control to either rescue the business or sell its assets to achieve a better result than immediate closure.

Who gets paid? There is a strict legal queue. Secured lenders (banks) and “preferential” creditors (employees and HMRC) are paid first. Unsecured creditors, including trade suppliers and customers, are at the back of the line and often receive nothing.

Employees: Redundancies often occur in the first 14 days. After this window, the administrator “adopts” remaining contracts, making ongoing wages a priority. Unpaid redundancy or notice pay can usually be claimed through the government’s Redundancy Payments Service.

Suppliers & Customers: Suppliers should negotiate “pro-forma” (upfront) terms for any new orders. For customers, gift cards and deposits are rarely honored. However, if you paid over £100 via credit card, you may be able to claim a refund under Section 75.

Written ByRobert Moore

Insolvency Advisor & Content Lead


+447584583884

Rob has spent over twenty years on the front line of the UK restructuring sector, acting as a trusted first point of contact for many worried company directors. If you are facing aggressive creditor pressure or dealing with bailiff threats, Rob can talk to you through your options clearly

Rob is now working with the Board at RMT to develop strategic marketing programmes to support the business plan and drive more company rescues.

Robert Moore