Leading

16/10/2025

The company behind Basmati Indian Cuisine on Newport High Street has entered voluntary liquidation, with Leading Business Services appointed to oversee the process.

👉 Newport Indian Restaurant Limited, trading as Basmati, went into voluntary liquidation in early September.

👉 Our Insolvency Practitioner, Jamie Playford FABRP MIPA, was appointed liquidator following a creditors’ meeting on 3 September.

👉 A statement of affairs filed with Companies House shows debts of over £21,000, including amounts owed to British Gas and Telford & Wrekin Council.

👉 The business was incorporated in April 2023, trading from the same premises as a restaurant previously wound up in 2022.

At Leading Business Services, we support businesses, creditors, and stakeholders through insolvency processes with transparency and professionalism. Voluntary liquidation is often the best route forward for struggling companies, allowing directors to act responsibly while protecting creditors’ interests.

If you’re concerned about your business finances, seeking early advice can make all the difference.

https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/telford/newport/2025/09/13/liquidators-called-in-at-newport-high-street-indian-restaurant-business/


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Leading Business Services are licensed insolvency practitioners who provide business rescue, insolvency and turnaround solutions for clients and professional partners across the UK. You can contact our friendly and experienced team on 01603 552028 or email us at [email protected].

An Indian restaurant business on Newport's High Street is poised to be wound up, after liquidators were called in.

14/10/2025

Iconic British footwear brand Irregular Choice has announced it will close its flagship store and website, marking the end of 26 years in business.

🎨 Founded in 1999, the Brighton-based brand was celebrated for quirky, bold designs, including unicorn heels, sequins, and playful embellishments.

📉 Rising costs, economic uncertainty, pandemic impacts, and the liquidation of its main distributor left the business financially vulnerable.

🏭 The brand’s long-term factory partner has also closed, highlighting the challenges of specialist, detail-heavy production.

💷 Smaller independent fashion brands often struggle to survive amid inflation, supply chain issues, and tightening consumer spending on non-essential items.

🔄 While the founder has not ruled out a return, relocating production and maintaining the brand’s intricate designs remains a significant challenge.

At Leading Business Services, we support independent and creative businesses through financial difficulty, helping them assess options, manage debts, and explore structured solutions to protect value and preserve future opportunities.

The closure of Irregular Choice underscores the fragility of niche retail brands in today’s economic climate, and the importance of proactive financial and operational planning.


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Leading Business Services are licensed insolvency practitioners who provide business rescue, insolvency and turnaround solutions for clients and professional partners across the UK. You can contact our friendly and experienced team on 01603 552028 or email us at [email protected].

13/10/2025

Derby-based SOS Wholesale Limited, one of the UK’s largest wholesalers, has entered administration, with a sale of the business and assets now being explored.

📉 Turnover fell from £49.5m to £42.7m in the year to October 2024, despite profits rising.
💰 Rising input costs and shifting consumer spending habits placed severe pressure on cashflow.
👥 The majority of the company’s 100 staff have been made redundant, though some teams have transitioned to The Soft Drinks Company.
🏭 Established in 1996, the business supplied groceries, toiletries and household goods to retailers nationwide.
⚖️ Administrators are now seeking interested parties for a potential sale of the company’s assets.

This case highlights the mounting pressures across the wholesale and retail supply chain. Even established businesses with decades of trading history are vulnerable to cost increases and changes in consumer behaviour.

👉 When financial strain becomes unmanageable, placing a company into administration can provide breathing space and the opportunity to explore rescue or sale options, while protecting creditors and employees as far as possible. Early advice is often the key to unlocking better outcomes.


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Leading Business Services are licensed insolvency practitioners who provide business rescue, insolvency and turnaround solutions for clients and professional partners across the UK. You can contact our friendly and experienced team on 01603 552028 or email us at [email protected].

08/10/2025

Another big name in UK retail has hit difficulties. Live Unlimited, a plus-size fashion brand stocked by retailers including Next, John Lewis and M&S, has filed a notice of intention to appoint administrators.

📉 Rising costs and reduced consumer spending continue to put pressure on the retail sector.
🛒 Despite financial challenges, the brand’s website remains live and customers can still place orders.
📑 The company has two outstanding charges with HSBC, as shown on Companies House filings.
👗 Founded in 2012, Live Unlimited built partnerships with major UK retailers and even expanded to the US via Nordstrom.
👥 Administration typically gives a company temporary breathing space, with administrators seeking to either restructure, sell the business, or, if that’s not possible, wind it down in an orderly way.

For directors, entering administration can be a difficult but necessary step to protect creditors, employees and the longer-term value of a business. Insolvency practitioners provide guidance throughout this process, helping explore all available options.

👉 If your business is under pressure, early advice can make all the difference.


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Leading Business Services are licensed insolvency practitioners who provide business rescue, insolvency and turnaround solutions for clients and professional partners across the UK. You can contact our friendly and experienced team on 01603 552028 or email us at [email protected].

02/10/2025

Reports suggest health and beauty retailer Bodycare could enter administration as early as next week unless a buyer is found. The chain, which has been trading since 1970, employs around 1,500 staff across 130 UK stores.

🛍️ High street struggles – Bodycare joins a growing list of retailers facing administration or restructuring, following Poundland and River Island.
💼 If a rescue deal isn’t secured, 1,500 employees could be affected.
💷 Debt facility – Recently secured a £7m loan against its retail stock, highlighting funding challenges.
📉 Rising costs, supply chain issues and changing consumer habits continue to squeeze margins.

At times like these, insolvency doesn’t always mean the end – with the right support, businesses can often find a path to survival.

Insolvency practitioners can step in to explore options such as administration, refinancing or restructuring plans to protect jobs and stabilise businesses.


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Leading Business Services are licensed insolvency practitioners who provide business rescue, insolvency and turnaround solutions for clients and professional partners across the UK. You can contact our friendly and experienced team on 01603 552028 or email us at [email protected].

30/09/2025

Glasgow-based Panther M*lk, known for its pioneering oat milk-based alcoholic cocktails, has gone into liquidation with all seven jobs lost.

📉 Despite generating £175k turnover (Oct 2024–May 2025), two major supermarket deals fell through
🥛 The brand was inspired by Barcelona’s Leche de Pantera cocktail and launched in 2015
🍾 Recently rebranded with new bottles and flavours (Crema, Rosa, Café, Menta) aimed at younger consumers
⚠️ Surplus stock and cashflow difficulties led to the company ceasing trading on 18 July 2025
📦 Around 17,400 bottles of stock remain, with liquidators now exploring disposal opportunities

This case shows how fast-moving consumer brands, even with innovation and strong appeal, can face sudden financial challenges when anticipated contracts do not materialise.

👉 Insolvency practitioners play a crucial role in managing these situations: ensuring transparency, protecting creditor interests, and finding ways to maximise value from remaining assets.


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Leading Business Services are licensed insolvency practitioners who provide business rescue, insolvency and turnaround solutions for clients and professional partners across the UK. You can contact our friendly and experienced team on 01603 552028 or email us at [email protected].

26/09/2025

The award-winning Nelson’s Distillery & School Ltd, based in Staffordshire, has closed following the death of its founder, Neil Harrison, earlier this year. Despite strong interest, no going concern sale was achieved.

⚰️ The business entered administration in July 2025 after the passing of Neil Harrison, aged 56
📈 More than 30 expressions of interest were received, but offers fell short of requirements
🏭 Assets included a fully equipped distillery, stock, and a 14-station gin school
🛒 While the business ceased trading on 31 July, its trademarks, recipes and digital presence have been sold separately, meaning the brand name will continue

This story highlights how unexpected life events can have profound impacts on businesses, even those with strong reputations and loyal customer bases.

✅ Insolvency processes aren’t just about closure – they also provide a structured way to protect brand value, safeguard assets, and create opportunities for legacy to continue.


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Leading Business Services are licensed insolvency practitioners who provide business rescue, insolvency and turnaround solutions for clients and professional partners across the UK. You can contact our friendly and experienced team on 01603 552028 or email us at [email protected].

25/09/2025

The challenges facing the UK hospitality sector continue, as popular London cocktail bar chain Simmons has entered administration following a £749,000 loss last year.

📉 Simmons has appointed administrators after struggling with rising costs and reduced footfall.

🏙️ The group, with 20+ London sites, has announced the closure of four bars as part of a “strategic restructuring process.”

💼 Despite closures, fresh investment has been secured to support its strongest-performing venues and future improvements.

⚠️ The hospitality sector remains under pressure, with more than 16,000 sites lost since 2020.

🏚️ Industry leaders warn of the “hollowing out” of high streets as businesses are squeezed by high rents, rates, and staffing costs.

👉 For business owners, this is a stark reminder of how quickly costs and trading pressures can escalate. Seeking advice early before losses mount can open up more options, from restructuring to investment.

At Leading, we work with businesses to find the best path forward, whether that’s turnaround, restructuring, or formal insolvency solutions.


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Leading Business Services are licensed insolvency practitioners who provide business rescue, insolvency and turnaround solutions for clients and professional partners across the UK. You can contact our friendly and experienced team on 01603 552028 or email us at [email protected].

24/09/2025

The bakery sector is set for a major shake-up as Associated British Foods (ABF), owner of Kingsmill, agrees to buy Hovis for £75m. If approved by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA), this merger could create the UK’s biggest bread brand.

💷 The deal aims to save £55m by combining production and distribution – but jobs are at risk.

🛑 The CMA is expected to scrutinise the move for up to a year, with supermarket own-label bread and Warburtons (currently holding 25% of the market) providing competition.

📉 Both Kingsmill and Hovis have faced financial struggles, with Hovis reporting a £4.7m loss last year and ABF’s bakery division also running at a loss.

⚖️ Unite union has already signalled strong resistance to any cuts to pay, jobs, or conditions.

👉 For businesses across sectors, this highlights how market shifts, cost pressures, and competition can trigger the need for restructuring. Early planning and professional advice can make the difference between survival, sale, or closure.


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Leading Business Services are licensed insolvency practitioners who provide business rescue, insolvency and turnaround solutions for clients and professional partners across the UK. You can contact our friendly and experienced team on 01603 552028 or email us at [email protected].

08/09/2025

When someone passes away, their estate may include more than just property and personal belongings — it could also include a business. For executors, this adds a whole new layer of complexity to the probate process.

📊 Valuation is Key – Business assets must be professionally valued to ensure the estate is administered fairly and in line with legal requirements. This can include shares, intellectual property, property holdings, or even ongoing contracts.

⚖️ Debt & Liability Management – If the business has outstanding debts, creditors must be identified and paid in the correct legal order. As insolvency specialists, we help executors navigate these obligations to avoid personal liability.

🔄 Continuity or Closure? Some estates require temporary business management to protect its value, while others may involve a sale or wind-down. We provide clear guidance on the best route forward based on the circumstances.

By combining our expertise in probate and business restructuring, we ensure that estates involving companies are handled with precision, transparency, and care, protecting both the executor and the legacy left behind.


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Leading Business Services are licensed insolvency practitioners who provide business rescue, insolvency and turnaround solutions for clients and professional partners across the UK. You can contact our friendly and experienced team on 01603 552028 or email us at [email protected].

01/09/2025

HMCTS bring positive news for those navigating probate. Shorter timelines mean executors and beneficiaries can move forward more quickly, but complex or contested estates still benefit from specialist guidance.

📉 Turnaround Times
Average probate grant now issued in 5 weeks, down from 11 weeks in early 2024.

📊 Key Stats (Jan–Mar 2025)

65,099 probate applications made; 64,595 grants issued

93% handled completely digitally

Open caseload almost halved — from 69,017 to 35,475 in a year

⚖ A quicker probate process reduces stress during an already difficult time, but missing documents, disputes, or complex financial arrangements can still delay matters.

✅ In addition to insolvency and restructuring, we provide a comprehensive probate service — from obtaining the Grant of Probate to full estate administration. Our team works with executors, beneficiaries, and professional advisers to ensure estates are settled efficiently, compliantly, and with care.


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Leading Business Services are licensed insolvency practitioners who provide business rescue, insolvency and turnaround solutions for clients and professional partners across the UK. You can contact our friendly and experienced team on 01603 552028 or email us at [email protected].

25/08/2025

The number of contested estates is increasing sharply, making probate more complex and stressful for executors, families, and beneficiaries. Whether you’re dealing with a straightforward estate or one under dispute, understanding the trends — and having the right support — is essential.

📊 HM Courts & Tribunals Service recorded 11,362 applications to block probate in 2024, up from 7,268 in 2019 — a 56% rise.

👵 Ageing Population & Mental Capacity – By 2041, over 26% of the UK will be aged 65+. Dementia diagnoses have risen 9% in two years, creating more challenges around will validity and estate distribution.

💰 Baby boomers hold most UK property wealth, and with more £1m+ homes in probate cases, disputes are becoming more financially significant.

💍 Increases in remarriages among over-60s mean more blended family disputes.

✅ Alongside our insolvency and restructuring expertise, we provide a full probate service — from obtaining the Grant of Probate to managing the entire estate administration.

Our team works with executors, beneficiaries, and advisers to ensure estates are handled efficiently, disputes are resolved, and assets are protected.


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Leading Business Services are licensed insolvency practitioners who provide business rescue, insolvency and turnaround solutions for clients and professional partners across the UK. You can contact our friendly and experienced team on 01603 552028 or email us at [email protected].