Karaoke group Lucky Voice is closing two bars in London with immediate effect, resulting in dozens of job losses, despite a rescue deal that secures the future of three other venues. Swedish karaoke firm Moyagi Group has acquired the UK chain through a pre-pack administration deal after Lucky Voice hired administrators on Tuesday.
Lucky Voice operated six sites across the UK, but half of these will now shut immediately as part of the insolvency process. The Brighton, Waterloo, and Islington locations were not included in the deal and will close at once, leading to 53 redundancies. The brand’s Soho, Holborn, and Liverpool Street venues in London will transfer to Moyagi, along with the Lucky Voice brand, its intellectual property, its business-to-business operation, and 59 employees, according to administrators from Interpath.
Declining trading and liquidity pressures
Administrators said the process follows a “deterioration” in trading over the past 12 months, amid a challenging consumer backdrop. Lucky Voice, founded in 2005, suffered increased pressure on liquidity and ultimately entered administration after failing to secure a solvent sale.
Steve Absolom, managing director at Interpath and joint administrator, said: “Lucky Voice has been one of the most recognisable names in the UK’s nightlife scene for two decades, and we are pleased to have secured a future for the brand and for three of its most popular venues.”
Night-time economy headwinds
Absolom highlighted broader challenges facing the sector: “The wider night-time economy continues to face significant headwinds. Rising employment costs, elevated energy bills and a consumer who has become increasingly selective about discretionary spending have put real pressure on operators.” He added, “Many across the sector have felt those pressures acutely, and Lucky Voice was sadly not immune.”
The administrator confirmed that support for affected staff is a priority: “Our priority now is to support the employees at the sites in Brighton, Waterloo and Islington with their redundancy claims and ensure a smooth transition of the continuing sites to Moyagi.”
Impact and next steps
The closures reduce Lucky Voice’s footprint from six to three sites, all in London, with the brand now under Swedish ownership. The deal preserves 59 jobs and the brand’s B2B operations, while 53 employees face redundancy. The transition of the continuing sites to Moyagi is expected to proceed smoothly, according to Interpath.
