Funny Girls operator enters administration as hospitality pressures weigh on live entertainment venues

Ellis Noble Leisure Limited, the operator of the Blackpool cabaret venue Funny Girls, has entered administration, marking a further insolvency in the UK hospitality and live entertainment sector as operators contend with rising costs and softer consumer spending.

Martyn Pullin and Gary Hargreaves of FRP Advisory were appointed joint administrators on 13 January, following a prolonged period during which the business had been marketed for sale, after its owner signalled plans to step back from day to day operations.

Ellis Noble Leisure trades as Funny Girls, an internationally recognised drag and burlesque cabaret venue that has played a prominent role in the LGBTQIA+ cultural scene for decades. The business generates annual turnover of approximately £1.8 million and directly employs around 30 staff, with a similar number of performers engaged on a self-employed basis.

Funny Girls operates from a five floor, Grade II listed former cinema building in Blackpool, featuring a large auditorium, restaurant space, nightclub, and ancillary performance areas. The property had been marketed by advisers with an asking price of £3.5 million, reflecting both its scale and its landmark status.

The venue previously entered administration in 2018 before being acquired and later returned to the control of its founder, who had announced intentions to retire after more than 30 years at the helm. The administrators have not yet confirmed the immediate trading status of the venue or whether a sale or restructuring process will be pursued.