Thu, 09 Apr 2026 | ADMINISTRATION
Two gastropubs have been acquired out of administration in a pre-pack deal following the collapse of a pub operator in London. However attempts to sell the full estate prior to administration were unsuccessful, as administrators seek to maximise returns for creditors.
Lunar Pub Company operated three leasehold gastropub sites in London prior to its collapse last month. Following the appointment of administrators on March 24, 2026, The Hunter’s Moon in South Kensington and The Elizabeth in Belgravia were sold to Auroragate Operations - a company incorporated on March 18 2026 - in a pre-pack sale.
The pre-pack sale ensured the ongoing operation of the two venues and secured 46 jobs. Despite attempts to secure a sale of all three pubs prior to insolvency, these efforts were unsuccessful and the group’s third site ceased trading prior to the administration.
Administrators received no viable offers for The Apollo Arms in Clapham, resulting in its closure and 26 redundancies.
One of the joint administrators for Lunar Pub Company described the business as “a well-regarded group of gastropubs”, but added that it had not been “immune to the sustained pressures facing the hospitality sector in recent years.”
Like many pub companies, and many operators across the wider hospitality industry, Lunar Pub Company had faced persistent financial challenges linked to changes in consumer spending and rising operating costs, which put sustained pressure on its cashflow.
The joint administrator continued: “We are pleased to have secured a sale of two sites, preserving those venues and a number of jobs. Unfortunately, no viable offers were received for The Apollo Arms, and the site was therefore unable to continue trading.”
He added that the focus would now be on maximising returns for the company’s creditors, while supporting employees impacted by the closure.
In its accounts for the year to March 31 2025, Lunar Pub Company Limited’s fixed assets were valued at £1.1 million and current assets at around £331,600, with total equity amounting to slightly over £214,000.
Read our recent deep-dive on M&A in the UK restaurant industry, including an examination of the challenges facing gastropub operators and dealmaking trends in the sub-sector
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