A 24-year-old international barbeque chain has now closed all of its locations.
Bodean’s BBQ restaurant group, which mirrored traditional American cuisine, has made the difficult decision to close all of its locations across London after 24 years.
The restaurant store closures were first reported by local press in the UK.
Bodean’s BBQ hit customers hard. The chain is known for its Kansas City-style slow-smoked meats amongst other giant sharing platters that resemble those in America.
This unique American style made the barbeque chain such a prominent restaurant since its launch back in 2002.
At its peak, the restaurant group had a total of eight operating locations in London.
But over the years, restaurant closures became inevitable.
Why Bodean’s BBQ Closed
Why did Bodean’s BBQ restaurant close permanently?
Like many restaurant and store closure trends, the reason for Bodean’s BBQ permanent closures is multifaceted.
Rising costs for example play a massive role in restaurant closures.
In the United States, total restaurant operating expenses jumped 36% between 2019 and 2026, driven by a 35% spike in wholesale food prices and a 41% increase in average hourly labor earnings.
According to the National Restaurant Association, these rising input costs and squeezed profit margins have forced a matching 36% rise in average menu prices.
Couple it with rising overhead costs such as utilities, occupancy, supplies, and credit card processing fees is a recipe for disaster in any industry.
In the UK, the National Living Wage rose alongside increased employer NICs (with thresholds lowered to £5,000), adding an estimated extra cost per full-time employee.
As of August 11, all three remaining Bodean’s BBQ locations are listed as “currently closed”.
Bodean’s BBQ restaurant group stated, “We sincerely apologise [British spelling] for any inconvenience this may cause and would like to thank you for your continued support and loyalty.”
“We appreciate your understanding during this time and hope to welcome you again in the future.”
Aside from this message, the owners have not been 100% transparent on what exaclty led to the abrupt closures.
But Bodean’s BBQ isn’t the only international restaurant closing locations.
Beefeater announced in late July it was closing all 106 locations across the UK after its parent company blamed soaring operating costs.
Beefeater had a total of 140 restaurant locations at its peak.
BBQ Restaurant Industry Data Shows Contrasting Forecast
BBQ Restaurant Industry Data – Growth, CAGR, Market Value.
According to a recent consumer report, the global BBQ restaurant market was valued at $67.4 billion USD in 2025 and is projected to nearly double to $112.8 billion at a CAGR of 5.9% by 2035.
Dine-In service type held the largest share at 44.5% in 2025.
What are the key drivers for this explosive growth in the BBQ restaurant industry?
Rising disposable incomes, growth of food delivery platforms, and expanding BBQ culture globally were reported to be the key drivers behind the expansion.
“This growth trajectory reflects robust consumer appetite for smoked, grilled, and slow-cooked meats across both developed and emerging economies, fueled by cultural shifts, evolving dining preferences, and the rapid expansion of food delivery infrastructure globally,” read the report.
“As of 2026, delivery and takeaway together account for nearly 46% of total BBQ restaurant revenues, reflecting how deeply off-premise consumption has reshaped service model economics.”
So even though restaurants such as Bodean’s BBQ are facing closures and financial struggles, the industry as a whole is still expected to grow significantly.
Frank Nez is an American entrepreneur, journalist, writer, and investor. Frank's work has been cited by SEC and Congressional reports. Franknez.com is a personal finance and market news publication, dedicated to publishing content on money, investing, entrepreneurship, and retail investor news.
