The Rise and Fall of a Beloved London Burger Chain
MEATliquor, a once-celebrated burger chain based in London, has recently entered administration after closing the majority of its branches. Operated by Meatalier, the company has officially appointed administrators, according to The Gazette. This marks a significant downturn for a brand that was once a cult-favourite among Londoners looking for high-quality street food and beer.
The chain, which began as a mobile burger van known as the MEATwagon, evolved into a series of restaurants, opening its first permanent location near Oxford Street in 2011. At its peak, MEATliquor operated 13 restaurants, with 12 in the UK and one in Singapore. However, recent financial struggles have led to the closure of five of its eight London locations last month, including those in Islington, Clapham Junction, and Queensway.
Currently, only three of its restaurants remain open, with two in Oxford Circus and East Dulwich, and its sister sports bar, BLOODsports, in Covent Garden. Speaking to Restaurant Online in March, founder Scott Collins highlighted the challenges faced by the business: “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. 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.”
The burger chain was first launched in 2009 by Yianni Papoutsis alongside business partner Scott Collins. Despite its initial success, the rising costs of energy and operating expenses have placed the company in dire financial straits.
Industry-Wide Challenges
The struggles of MEATliquor are not isolated. Other burger chains have also faced similar challenges. Patty&Bun, another trendy burger joint, recently announced the closure of four of its six venues on Instagram. The brand shared a heartfelt message to its customers, expressing gratitude for their support over the years.
Among the closures was the brand’s first-ever location in Marylebone, London, which launched in November 2012. Now, only two brick-and-mortar sites remain, perhaps unsurprising given the group’s recent restructure that saw its assets acquired by a new company.
Hardships have even spread to the cult favourite Five Guys, with losses widening across the European arm. In October last year, the division, headquartered in London, reported a pre-tax loss of £36.7m for 2024, following a pre-tax loss of £16.7m in 2023. Five Guys, founded by the Murrell family in 1986, also made a pre-tax loss of £35.6m in 2022, as reported by City AM.
The losses may be related to the brand’s high cost points, with prices of £13.35 for a bacon cheeseburger and £6.95 for a large fries in the London Portobello branch, meaning a single meal could reach a total of £20.30.
Broader Impacts on the Industry
The once-booming GBK has also faced uncertainty in recent years, as it closed 26 restaurants and axed 362 jobs in 2020. The burger chain had been purchased in a rescue deal by Boparan Restaurant Group, which also plucked Carluccio’s from insolvency during the pandemic.
GBK said it had started to see improvements in trading the year prior after a major restructuring process in 2018, which saw it shut a raft of sites. However, the company, which had been owned by the South African group Famous Brands, said it slid into administration after the pandemic impacted its liquidity and potential to be sold as a solvent business.
These developments highlight the ongoing challenges faced by the restaurant industry, particularly in the wake of economic pressures and changing consumer habits. As more businesses struggle to stay afloat, the future of many beloved establishments remains uncertain.
