Felix Restaurants (Warley) Ltd Enters Administration
Essex dining operator FELIX RESTAURANTS (WARLEY) LTD entered administration on 3 November 2026, according to a statutory notice published in The Gazette. The formal appointment was recorded under case number CR-2026-008081 in the High Court of Justice Business and Property Courts of England and Wales, Insolvency and Companies List (ChD).
The filing follows earlier enforcement action by HM Revenue and Customs, which presented a petition to wind up the business in May 2026. The appointment of administrators invokes an immediate statutory moratorium under Schedule B1 to the Insolvency Act 1986, halting outstanding litigation and placing corporate affairs under the control of licensed insolvency practitioners.
Gazette notice details
The statutory appointment was registered in The Gazette on 3 November 2026 under notice code 2410.
| Detail | Verified Public Record |
|---|---|
| Company Name | FELIX RESTAURANTS (WARLEY) LTD |
| Company Number | 10873174 |
| Court | High Court of Justice, Insolvency & Companies List (ChD) |
| Court Case Number | CR-2026-008081 |
| Notice Date | 3 November 2026 |
| Appointing Party | [Shown in the creditor report →](#offers-creditor) |
| Administrators | [Shown in the creditor report →](#offers-creditor) |
| Administrator Firm | [Shown in the creditor report →](#offers-creditor) |
Company snapshot
Incorporated on 19 July 2017, the company operates under SIC code 96090 ("Other personal service activities not elsewhere classified"). Its registered office is Felix Restaurant (Warley), Headley Common, Great Warley, Brentwood, Essex, CM13 3HS.
Public filings at Companies House disclose the following financial baseline from the accounts for the period ending 30 December 2025:
- Net Assets: £1,957,880
- Employee Headcount: 67
- Turnover: Not disclosed in unaudited small company accounts
- Principal Trading Location: Headley Common, Great Warley
Directors and ownership
Companies House records document the officer appointments and shareholding control structures since incorporation.
Current Board of Directors
- Catherine Mary Fox: Director, British, born July 1949, resident in England. Appointed on 2 July 2020.
- Clifford Royston Fox: Director, British, born January 1948, resident in England. Appointed on 19 July 2017.
- Kamlesh Jagdish Raval: Director, British, born May 1966, resident in England. Appointed on 2 July 2020.
Past Directors
- Ramona Elena Frincu: Romanian, born December 1986. Appointed on 14 March 2024; resigned on 9 January 2025.
- Mun Cheun Li: British, born April 1962. Appointed on 19 July 2017; resigned on 3 March 2025.
Persons with Significant Control (PSC)
- Mr Clifford Royston Fox: Notified on 19 July 2017. Holds 25% to 50% of shares and 25% to 50% of voting rights.
- Mun Cheun Li: Notified on 19 July 2017. Holds 25% to 50% of shares and 25% to 50% of voting rights.
Recent filings and Gazette activity
The company has been the subject of multiple statutory publications in 2026:
1. 3 November 2026 (Administration Notice): Appointment of administrators advertised in The Gazette under High Court case CR-2026-008081.
2. 3 July 2026 (Winding-Up Petition Notice): Notice published detailing a winding-up petition presented on 29 May 2026 by the Commissioners for HM Revenue and Customs under case number CR-2026-004240. The petition was scheduled for hearing on 15 July 2026 at the Royal Courts of Justice.
An HMRC winding-up petition frequently signals statutory tax arrears. Where a company enters administration subsequent to an advertised winding-up petition, the administration appointment either proceeds with court permission or via an administration order made at or before the petition hearing, superseding the compulsory liquidation process.
What administration means for creditors and customers
This summary provides general information regarding UK administration under the Insolvency Act 1986 and does not constitute legal advice.
- Statutory Moratorium: Upon appointment, paragraph 43 of Schedule B1 imposes a comprehensive freeze. Unsecured creditors cannot issue proceedings, execute judgments, repossess leased equipment, or petition for winding up without court permission or administrator consent.
- Powers of Directors Suspended: The statutory powers of the directors to run the business cease. Management authority transfers exclusively to the appointed joint administrators.
- Proof of Debt Process: Unsecured creditors, including food and beverage suppliers, utilities, and landlords, must formally file a proof of debt with the administrators to substantiate their claims.
- Administrator Proposals: Within eight weeks of appointment, the administrators must produce a formal statement of proposals detailing the administration objective and whether funds are expected to yield a dividend for unsecured creditors.
How credit teams should respond: Step-by-step checklist
When a counterparty in the hospitality sector moves from a petition to an administration, credit control teams should apply this structured protocol:
1. Cease Open Credit: Immediately halt trade credit terms and freeze dispatches to the trading site.
2. Run a Court Search: Perform a fresh winding up search to ensure all related legal entities or connected holding companies are identified across court lists.
3. Assert Retention of Title (ROT): If your contract contains an enforceable ROT clause, submit an inventory demand to the administrators before assets are commingled or sold.
4. Obtain Administrator Contacts: Review the complete appointment record to identify the assigned insolvency firm and case manager.
5. Submit Formal Proof of Debt: Gather all unpaid invoices, delivery receipts, and contracts, then lodge a formal claim with the administrator.
Practical scenario: The supply chain exposure
Consider an independent beverage supplier that extended £25,000 in credit on 30-day terms to a regional restaurant group. In July, HMRC advertised a petition in The Gazette. A credit manager who performed a regular winding up petition search in July would have observed the petition under CR-2026-004240 and switched terms to cash-on-delivery.
Conversely, a supplier relying solely on annual Companies House returns would only notice the distress months later when the administration notice appeared in November. By that point, the statutory moratorium prevents recovery of delivered goods unless a valid retention of title claim is established.
For credit teams and suppliers
Commercial suppliers and credit underwriters must conduct rigorous pre-credit reviews and scheduled portfolio checks. Missing an advertised petition leaves trade creditors vulnerable to sudden bad debts and frozen supply lines. Routine checks using a winding up search provide immediate visibility of pending petitions long before administrators are appointed.
Manually tracking cause lists, Companies House filings, and Gazette entries is time-consuming and risks human error. Corp Intel automates this process by cross-referencing court dockets and Gazette data into a unified interface. Rather than manually cross-checking register entries, finance professionals can set up free company monitoring to receive instant notifications whenever statutory notices or petitions are filed against counterparties.
FAQ
What court is handling the administration of Felix Restaurants (Warley) Ltd?
The High Court of Justice Business and Property Courts of England and Wales (Insolvency and Companies List, Chancery Division) is handling the matter under case number CR-2026-008081.
What happened to the HMRC winding-up petition filed in May 2026?
HMRC presented a petition on 29 May 2026 under case CR-2026-004240. The appointment of administrators supersedes winding-up proceedings, as the administration moratorium prevents the hearing of a winding-up petition without the permission of the court.
How can suppliers claim unpaid debts from Felix Restaurants (Warley) Ltd?
Suppliers must submit a formal proof of debt document to the appointed administrators, enclosing copies of relevant invoices, statement of accounts, and contractual terms.
Are the directors personally liable for the debts of the company?
In UK corporate insolvency, directors are not automatically liable for company debts due to limited liability. Liability only arises if administrators or liquidators prove specific breaches, such as misfeasance or wrongful trading, under the Insolvency Act 1986.
Where can I check if another company has a pending petition or administrator?
You can run a court search through the Central Registry or use Corp Intel's search tools to identify pending petitions, winding-up orders, and administrator appointments across England and Wales.