UK restaurant chain enters administration amid rising ‘market pressures’ as high street woes continue

Founder, Nino Caruso, told The Sun: "Like many businesses in the UK casual dining sector, we have faced a combination of well-documented market pressures in recent years, including rising operating costs and challenges within the property landscape."

He added: "This process allows us to address those factors, realign the business, and ensure a more sustainable foundation for the future."

The administration notice was published in the London Gazette on Monday.

Veeno was founded in Manchester in 2013 by Italian entrepreneurs Nino Caruso and Andrea Zecchino, with the aim of introducing authentic "Aperitivo" culture to UK customers.

The brand distinguished itself within the hospitality sector through its wine selection, which is sourced directly from the founders’ family vineyard, Caruso & Minini, located in Marsala, Sicily.

Its direct sourcing model enabled the business to offer wines not typically available through standard retail channels.

Veeno also became known for its Mediterranean-style platters featuring cured meats and cheeses, which were served alongside its wine offerings.

The chain expanded beyond Manchester in the years following its launch, opening sites in Bristol, Durham, Edinburgh, Leeds and Leicester, as well as an international location in Wroclaw, Poland.

All five remaining UK sites now face potential closure if efforts to restructure or sell the business are unsuccessful.

David Kemp and Richard Hunt, joint administrators from Exigen Group Limited, have been appointed to oversee the process for Vintage Corporation Ltd, the company’s legal operating entity.

They will provide the business with an opportunity to restructure operations, secure a buyer, or achieve a better outcome for creditors than immediate liquidation.

Veeno Bars has already reduced its footprint in recent years, with its original Manchester flagship site permanently closing in August 2022.

Its Chester branch also confirmed its permanent closure on February 25 this year.

The current portfolio includes sites in Bristol, Durham, Edinburgh, Leeds and Leicester, with uncertainty remaining over the future of staff across these locations.

This is the second time the business has entered administration, following a previous collapse in 2019.

During that period, investor Rodrigue Trouillet acquired the company after joining as a partner at the end of 2018, with the deal preserving around 70 jobs.

The brand has operated under several corporate structures since its founding.

It was originally incorporated as Veeno Ltd in 2013 before entering administration in early 2019.

Vintage Corporation Ltd was established in 2023 to oversee the current structure of the business before it entered administration on April 8.

Administrators will now assess whether the chain can be sold as a going concern or restructured to secure its future.