UK school, restaurant group and construction company fall into administration

A number of UK businesses have fallen into administration in recent weeks. It is a challenging time for many sectors, with three more businesses adding to the growing list.

Administrations for UK businesses rose by 41% in January this year. It was driven by high-street failures, rising wages, weaker consumer spending, and higher operating costs. Official Insolvency Service statistics show 151 companies entered administration in January, representing a 14% increase compared to January 2025. Now, a school, a restaurant group, and a construction company have also fallen into administration.

Restaurant group

Rebel Restaurants Group collapsed into administration on Monday, August 10. Documents seen by the Liverpool Echo revealed that resolutions have been submitted for the winding-up of the business.

In an official statement, Rebel Restaurants acknowledged there had been “considerable pressure on the company from an early stage.” Emily’s restaurant in Formby, Merseyside will continue trading despite the parent company falling into administration.

It will continue to operate under a new company, West Coast Dining Formby, which was established at the end of June.

Rebel Restaurants said: “Like many businesses operating within the hospitality sector, the company has faced significant financial pressures. The substantial costs associated with opening and establishing a new hospitality business; combined with continued increases in operating costs, placed considerable pressure on the company from an early stage.

“These challenges were further compounded by increases in employment costs, including changes to employer National Insurance contributions and thresholds, alongside rising wages, utilities, food costs and other operating expenses.

“Establishing a new independent hospitality business is challenging at the best of times. Furthermore, the combination of these pressures meant Rebel Restaurants Group Ltd continued to face significant cost challenges despite the growing popularity and success of Emily’s. Ultimately, these pressures resulted in the company entering administration.”

Construction company

Essex-based Breyer Holdings Limited appointed joint administrators on August 3, according to an official notice published in the public record.

The family-owned business, based in Harold Hill, Romford, was founded in 1956 and became a “leading property services providers in the South and South East.”

Dominik Thiel-Czerwinke and Jamie Taylor of BTG Begbies Traynor have been appointed to oversee the company’s administration.

School

An independent prep school in Essex has collapsed into administration and will not reopen. Avon House Preparatory School in Woodford Green, confirmed it has shut for good.

It charged up to £18,000 a year to attend the school. The school’s bursar said in an email to parents dated August 4: “Despite every effort to secure a sustainable future for the school, including exploring opportunities for investment, merger and sale, it has not been possible to find a financially viable way forward.”

Formal confirmation came on August 7 when the High Court appointed administrators. Avon House School Limited was placed into administration under court number CR-2026-006083.

Joint administrators Philip James Watkins and Philip Lewis Armstrong of FRP Advisory Trading Limited took control of the company, which has its principal trading address at 490 High Road, Woodford Green.