Cabana's London restaurants saved as administrators called in

Administrators from KPMG’s restructuring practice were appointed to the Brazilian barbecue chain on 16 August.

Cabana’s five London sites, which employ 156 people, were immediately sold to Hush Brasseries – another Barber-owned group which includes the Hache burger chain and Hush Mayfair.

Two “underperforming” restaurants in Southampton and Manchester have closed, with an expected 68 job losses.

“Whilst it is always pleasing to preserve a significant number of jobs, sadly a number of redundancies are to be made at the restaurants in Manchester and Southampton,” says Steve Absolom, KPMG partner and joint administrator.

“Our priority is to ensure all employees who have been affected by redundancy receive the information and guidance they need in order to claim monies owed from the Redundancy Payments Office.”

Barber launched Cabana in London in 2011 alongside David Ponte, the founder of Mayfair’s Momo restaurant.

It's five London sites operate at the O2 Arena, Wembley Park, Covent Garden, and Westfield's Stratford and White City shopping centres.  

Last month Cabana shut its Leeds restaurant​ ​after appointing KPMG to review its options. The chain also closed sites in Islington, Brixton and Newcastle in 2018.

Barber has appeared as a judge on the BBC’s My Million Pound Menu, and has mentored contestants including Baba G’s and KityCow.