Cardiff loses two bars as Revolution chain collapses

Two popular Cardiff city centre venues are among 21 bars shutting their doors immediately after the Revolution bar chain collapsed into administration, resulting in 591 job losses across the UK.

Both the Revolution bar and Revolucion de Cuba in the Welsh capital have closed following the failure of parent company The Revel Collective, which blamed mounting financial pressures for the collapse.

The closures come as part of a wider shutdown affecting 14 Revolution bars, six Revolucion de Cuba venues and one Peach Pub nationwide. However, 41 sites and 1,582 jobs have been saved after administrators FTI Consulting secured two separate rescue deals.

The Revolution and Revolucion de Cuba brands have been acquired by Neos Hospitality Group, whilst the Peach Pubs business has been bought by the newly formed Coral Pub Company. Shareholders will receive nothing from the sales.

The Revel Collective had been struggling for months, describing what it called “a continued period of external challenges” when it put itself up for sale last October. The company pointed to Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ Budget decisions, including increased national insurance contributions for employers and a rise in the minimum wage, as contributing factors.

The firm was particularly critical of increased spirits duty, estimating it would cost the group over £4 million annually. A turnaround plan which saw 15 loss-making bars close earlier proved insufficient to save the business.

Cardiff is the only Welsh location affected by the closures, losing both its Revolution and Revolucion de Cuba venues – a significant blow to the city’s nightlife scene.

The collapse reflects a broader crisis in the hospitality sector, with new figures showing 382 venues closed in the final three months of 2025 alone – more than four each day. Industry experts warn the situation will worsen when business rates changes take effect in April.

Karl Chessell, director of hospitality operators and food at research firm NIQ, said “relentless increases in operating costs” were taking a severe toll on the sector.

The company has been suspended from trading on London’s AIM stock exchange.