Three UK high street icons fall into administration — ‘will be seriously missed’

2026 may be a tough year for British business, with several companies having already announced they are closing or going into administration. Over the last week alone, several businesses have revealed they are struggling, including a hotel, art gallery, furniture store and others, with many jobs affected. 

It comes after around 25 major high street brands and banks  shut down hundreds of branches in 2025 and the mass closures seem to be continuing into 2026.  Some of the companies, such as Quiz Clothing, Game and The Original Factory Shop, were big retail brands that often appeared on UK high streets. Here are 14 businesses that have announced they have gone into administration in the last week.

1. LK Bennett

UK fashion retailer LK Bennett is set to close all of its standalone stores after the company entered administration, putting dozens of jobs at risk. As of February 2026, the business is in administration and, while the LK Bennett brand has been bought by investment firm Gordon Brothers, the deal did not include the retailer’s physical shop estate. As a result, all remaining stores are expected to close permanently by spring 2026. Administrators say the nine standalone shops and 13 department store concessions will continue trading for up to three months, meaning closures are likely by April 2026.

2. Quiz Clothing

The iconic high street fashion retailer that was founded in 1993 has gone into administration after disappointing sales over the Christmas holiday period. The chain employs 565 people, and 109 redundancies have already been made in Glasgow and at their distribution centre in Lanarkshire. It has 40 stores in the UK which will remain open, but they will be having clearance sales and will not be accepting refunds on or after February 5. Writer Danielle Wroe said she used to enjoy browsing in the store and that it “would be seriously missed if it was to disappear”.

3. The Original Factory Shop

The discount furniture shop that first opened on 1967 went into administration last month. It was known as a cornerstone of high streets but trading challenges such as high cost inflation and weak costumer confidence significantly affected sales. Its 137 shops remain open but has now shut down online operations. 

4. MPM Consumers Product Ltd

A UK household supplies company based in Manchester, it was founded in 1995 but went into administration on January 30. They produced hygiene  items such as handwash, body wash, creams and lotions as well as cleaning products like antiseptic disinfectant and sterilising fluid. The company produced items for brands like My Beard and Certex and stated on their website they were  “huge supporters of British manufacturing and believe ‘Made in England’ means miles less carbon.”  

5. Bistro Live

The entertainment venue operator with locations in Nottingham, Milton Keynes and Leicester has announced it has now shut down due to worsening economic conditions. It was acquired by FM Hospitality when it first went into administration in October 2025 but has now confined all three of its locations will be permanently shutting down. In a statement on the website, the company said it was a “incredibly difficult decision” to close after 25 years. 

6. South East Bottling Limited

A Kent-based brewing and bottling company with a “state-of-the-art” production facility has collapsed into administration after more than a decade in business. South East Bottling Limited (SEB), which operates from Broadstairs, was formally placed into administration on January 28, according to a notice published in The London Gazette on February 5.

7. Notting Hill Bakery

A popular bakery owned by a seasoned restaurateur in a tourist hotspot has gone into administration. The Notting Hill Bakery in London appointed joint administrators on January 29, as filed in The Gazette. The firm, which operates a cafe on Portobello Road and a wholesale bakery nearby in Notting Hill, had been put up for sale on an insolvency marketplace in January, seeking buyers for all or part of the business, with a one-week deadline for offers, as reported by City AM. Accounts on Companies House showed the firm had incurred losses of nearly £100,000 and liabilities of more than £1million in 2024.

8. Guys Thatched Hamlet

The canal-side Lancashire hotel has closed after 46 years. Notices were found taped around the entrance on February 2 and it has appointed administrators from FRP Advisory Trading Limited. All staff at the 65-room hotel were made redundant and a statement was issued: “We would like to sincerely thank our customers, staff and suppliers for their loyalty and support over the years. The hamlet has meant a great deal to many people, and as it moves through a period of transition, our focus is on bringing this chapter to a close.”

9. Harpers & Hurlingham Limited

The prominent estate agency in Kent entered administration, according to The London Gazette. Harpers & Hurlingham Limited, a well-known real estate agency operating in Cranbrook, officially had its administrators appointed on January 29. The move from Harpers & Hurlingham comes as a blow to the Cranbrook community, where the agency’s Cornerhouse office on Stone Street has long been a hub for luxury property listings.

10. Game

UK gaming retailer Game, a stalwart of the high street for years, said it will be closing the remainder of its standalone stores following its entering into administration. Founded in 1990, the retailer was taken over by Frasers Group in 2019, going on to open a series of concessions inside Sports Direct and House of Fraser stores, and closing the majority of its standalone stores. 

11. All Things Greek Ltd

All Things Greek Ltd, which oversaw the popular seafood restaurant The Melusine, has fallen into administration and appointed Quantuma Advisory Ltd as administrators on January 30.  The Melusine was located in the St Katharine Docks, London and had over 100 perfect 5-star reviews on TripAdvisor. On its website, they stated that all their fish served was “from the British Isles and is caught less than 24 hours before coming into the restaurant”. 

12. Stephen Friedman Gallery

The gallery known for contemporary art has announced it will be closing after 30 years of business. It was based in Mayfair, London also had a second place in New York that shut down last year.  A statement from the gallery said:  “Stephen Friedman Gallery commenced the administration process on 2 February 2026 to allow for an orderly review of its financial position. FRP Advisory have been appointed as the administrator. All matters are now subject to the administrator’s consideration. The gallery is now closed to the public and is not presenting at Art Basel Qatar this week.”

13. Ashley Manor

The furniture business had over 100 employees. One of the workers said they are “gutted” about the news which comes after the firm fell into troubling times last August. Bosses of Ashley Manor, a furniture manufacturer based in Dudley, West Midlands, told employees that they had filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators on Monday (February 2). It comes after a tough end to 2025, with workers trying to fulfil orders and support customers while hoping a buyer would be found.

14. Onespace Group Ltd

The construction firm with more than 500 completed projects has entered administration. Insolvency practitioners were appointed to run the Cheshire-based construction and interiors firm on January 26, with the official notice published on Wednesday.