Restaurants have a higher risk of failure than any other key sector in the north west, according to figures from the UK’s insolvency trade body R3, according to Propel Morning Briefing.
The study indicates 38% of restaurant companies in the region are considered at higher-than-average risk of failure in the next 12 months, which is equivalent to almost 1,800 businesses. R3 added 36% of pubs and 23% of hotels were considered at risk. In addition, restaurants had a higher risk score than any other sector including technology (37%), transport (32%), construction and retail (31%), professional services (29%), and manufacturing (22%).
The figures are also supported by statistics from the Insolvency Service, which showed restaurants are one of the few business categories where insolvencies have been steadily rising in recent years. The number of restaurant failures in the UK rose by 42% between 2010 and 2014, from 585 to 833.
Richard Wolff, north west chairman of R3 and head of corporate recovery and insolvency at law firm JMW, said: “The restaurant trade remains under pressure, despite the increase in consumer spending. Restaurants are one of the most popular choices for start-up businesses and the high number of new entrants means the market is very competitive. Running a successful restaurant also requires an incredible amount of skill – from developing the initial concept and choosing the right location to getting the key things right, such as marketing, the ambience of the venue and, of course, the quality of both the food and the levels of service. By way of example I have seen one recent case where the owner invested heavily both in the fit-out and launch of the venue but ultimately failed to get the basics right and has been unable to recoup the outlay. My advice to entrepreneurs would be to gain experience in the industry and do as much research as possible before starting up. Meanwhile even successful restaurateurs need to ensure they keep on top of the figures.”
Leave a Reply