Cricket-themed bar chain Sixes goes into administration

Sixes, the cricket-themed social bar chain backed by England captain Ben Stokes, has entered administration after a challenging trading period, administrators FRP Advisory said. The 15-venue chain remains open across the United Kingdom, but its Southampton location has closed, and three staff members have lost their jobs.

FRP Advisory said there were ongoing discussions with a number of interested parties about a sale of the business and its strongest-performing sites, suggesting some other closures could follow. Tony Wright, joint administrator, said the priority was to secure the best outcome for the business while honouring customer bookings through the Christmas period and beyond.

Sixes was launched in 2020 and blends hospitality with cricket, hosting events where guests face bowling machines and aim to rack up runs. It sits within a broader social-entertainment format pursued by rivals such as Flight Club and Boom Battle Bar and is backed in part by 4Cast, an investment group founded by Stokes, along with former England bowlers Jofra Archer and Stuart Broad and former player-turned-agent Mike Turns. It is not publicly known what share, if any, 4Cast holds in Sixes, and the BBC has sought comment from the group.

FRP Advisory noted that while the business has a core of strongly performing sites, others have struggled amid fierce competition for experiential venues and reduced consumer spending due to economic uncertainty. The administrators said aside from the Southampton branch, which has closed, the remaining venues and franchises would stay open and all bookings would be honoured through the festive period.

The primary purpose of administration is to try to rescue a company. When businesses struggle to pay debts or cannot borrow more cash, an administrator can take over from management to reorganize finances. If a rescue is not possible, the firm’s assets may be sold to repay creditors. The hospitality sector has faced mounting costs in recent times, including business rates and minimum wages, fueling concerns about jobs and viability for experiential venues.

Sixes’ joint administrator Wright said the chain had built a strong brand in the social-entertainment space and that its venues had proven popular with customers. He added that while some locations had faced pressure in a competitive market, the business has significant potential, and early interest from buyers was encouraging. “We’re confident that with the right investment and focus, Sixes can build on its core strengths.”

The administration comes as England’s Ashes campaign ended with a defeat in the third test in Adelaide, a timing noted by observers in relation to consumer sentiment and discretionary spending. The administrators stressed that bookings would be honored through the Christmas period and beyond, and they continue to pursue a sale of the brand and its strongest-performing sites as a pathway to a possible recovery for the business.