A POPULAR pub chain is planning mass closures across its business – with five Scottish bars under threat.
Revolution Bars Group is reportedly in ongoing talks about closing down around 20 of its poorest-performing premises.
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The firm revealed in January that it would have to shut down eight of its boozers in England and blamed the downturn in business on younger customers spending less than they used to.
It came despite the company reporting its best Christmas trading period since 2019, just before the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
It is not yet known how many people could face losing their job, but it is understood that it could be hundreds of workers.
An investor revealed they had recently heard of the latest plans, according to Sky News.
There is said to be a proposal to slash around a quarter of Revolution Bars venues to stay afloat.
The chain is also understood to be trying to attract investors in a bid to raise around £10million.
Revolution Bars has five premises across Scotland.
There are two in Glasgow, one on Renfield Street and another on Mitchell Street, with the other three in Chambers Street, Edinburgh, Belmont Street, Aberdeen, and Church Street, Inverness.
Rob Pitcher, Revolution Bars’ chief executive, said: “Revolution’s younger guests are still feeling the disproportionate effect of the cost-of-living crisis.
“Looking forward, both business rates and the national living wage will increase materially in April 2024 and therefore we have had to take the view that, with inflation remaining high, the recovery for the Revolution business, our largest brand, will take longer than we had previously forecast.”
In January, as well as revealing plans to close eight sites, the company also opted to cut opening hours.
The chain has said that it will “significantly reduce expenditure” and put back all refurbishments, despite its “best festive period since 2019”.
Mr Pitcher also warned that the night-time economy remains at risk due to the cost-of-living crisis and a lack of disposable income among young people.
Revolution had to close six bars back in 2020 as it struggled to keep afloat due to coronavirus restrictions.
The chain, formally known as Vodka Revs, opened its first bar in Manchester in 1996 and now has 90 venues UK-wide.
After the latest raft of closures, Revolution will operate 22 pubs and 58 bars.