MEATliquor Collapse: Burger Chains Face Unrelenting Costs

0:00On April 16, London's burger scene just took a big hit with Mattacore, that cult favorite for juicy patties and craft beer, collapsing into administration. The chain, run by MetaLear, shut down five of its eight spots last month, including popular ones in Islington, Clapham Junction, and Queensway. Now only three remain open. Two in Oxford Circus and East Owich, plus their sister's sports bar in Covent Garden. Starting energy bills, beef prices, and other costs have crushed the business much like Founder Scott Collins warned back in March. He talked about stacking pressures from VAT, rates, wars abroad, and tube strikes, saying they were getting ahead before things forced their hand. Started as a mobile van called the Meatwagon, in 2009 by Yani, Pop Out Seas, and Collins, it grew to 13 spots at its peak, including one in Singapore. Fans are gutted over losing this street food icon that kicked off near Oxford Street in 2011. It's hitting hard in a city where these joints build loyal crowds for high-end burgers.

1:04Meanwhile, the pain spreads wide. Petty and Bun just closed four of six venues, including their original Merrill Bones spot from 2012, thanking teams and communities on Instagram. Five guys, European arm-posted even bigger losses, 36.7 million pounds pre-tax last year, tied to steep prices like 13 pounds, 35 for a bacon cheeseburger. Burger chains across the UK keep restructuring or folding under these pressures, from GBK's 2020 closures to ongoing squeezes. With cost unrelenting, expect more shakeups in the fast casual game as survivors fight to flip the script.