Sixes cricket-themed bar chain enters administration

Sixes, the cricket-themed hospitality chain backed by England captain Ben Stokes, has entered administration, as administrators seek to secure the best outcome for the business while safeguarding customer bookings through the festive period. The decision affects all 15 UK venues, though the Southampton branch has closed and three staff members have been laid off. FRP Advisory said discussions are under way with a number of interested parties about a possible sale of the business and its strongest-performing sites.

Sixes, launched in 2020, blends social entertainment with cricket-themed experiences, allowing guests to face bowling machines and score runs in a party setting. It sits in a competitive niche alongside rivals such as Flight Club and Boom Battle Bar and is backed in part by 4Cast, an investment group founded by England players Ben Stokes, Jofra Archer and Stuart Broad, and agent Mike Turns. The chain announced its administration last week, a development that followed England's Ashes defeat in the third Test against Australia in Adelaide. It is not known how large 4Cast's stake is in Sixes, and BBC representatives have been contacted for comment.

FRP Advisory said the business has a core of performing sites but others have struggled amid fierce competition for experiential venues and reduced consumer spending amid economic uncertainty. In a statement, joint administrator Tony Wright said the priority was to secure the best outcome for the business while honouring customer bookings through the Christmas period and beyond. He added that while some locations have faced challenges, the group still had significant potential, and there has been early interest from parties looking to acquire the brand and its strongest-performing venues. Sixes said all bookings would be honoured as the process continues.

The hospitality sector has faced rising costs, including business rates and minimum wages, which industry groups say threaten jobs and could lead to more closures if conditions do not improve. Wright emphasized that Sixes had built a strong brand in the social entertainment space and that the administration process is aimed at stabilising finances and exploring strategic options rather than winding up the business. The concept, which integrates food, drink and cricket-themed experiences, has drawn capital from investors who hope to leverage a rising trend in experiential venues, though profitability has been uneven across the chain.

If a sale is concluded, FRP Advisory would oversee a transfer of assets to the buyer and the continuation of successful sites under a new owner, protecting customer bookings and the company’s core brand. Administrators typically aim to salvage a company; if that fails, liquidation may follow to repay creditors. For now, Sixes’ management and FRP are pursuing options that could preserve the brand and its best-performing sites while ensuring a continued customer experience during the holiday season.