Lafayette Opco Limited Enters Administration
Lafayette Opco Limited, trading as Lafayette, has entered administration pursuant to Schedule B1 of the Insolvency Act 1986. A statutory notice published in The Gazette on 7 October 2026 confirms that administration proceedings were initiated in the High Court of Justice under court reference CR-2026-007708.
Gazette notice details
The Gazette notice (Notice ID 5226752, Notice Code 2410) records the following statutory filing details:
- Company Name: LAFAYETTE OPCO LIMITED
- Company Registration Number: 16202339
- Trading Name: Lafayette
- Court: High Court of Justice
- Court Case Number: CR-2026-007708
- Nature of Business: Public houses and bars (SIC 56302)
- Registered Office: 49 Southwark Street, London, England, SE1 1RU
- Appointing Party & Administrators: [Shown in the creditor report →](#offers-creditor)
Company snapshot
According to Companies House, Lafayette Opco Limited was incorporated on 22 January 2025 as a private limited company.
- Registered Office: 49 Southwark Street, London, England, SE1 1RU
- Primary SIC Code: 56302 (Public houses and bars)
- Financial Reporting: As a newly incorporated entity, no statutory accounts have yet fallen due on the public register.
Directors and ownership
Public register filings at Companies House record the following officer appointments and beneficial ownership structure:
Current Directors
- Benjamin Walter David Lovett: Appointed 22 January 2025. Country of residence: United States. Nationality: British. Month and year of birth: September 1986.
- David Charles Lovett: Appointed 22 January 2025. Country of residence: United Kingdom. Nationality: British. Month and year of birth: July 1949.
- Gregory Charles Lovett: Appointed 22 January 2025. Country of residence: United Kingdom. Nationality: British. Month and year of birth: October 1980.
Persons with Significant Control (PSC)
- Tvg Topco Limited (Company Number 11567369): Notified as a corporate person with significant control on 22 January 2025. Holds 75% or more of shares, 75% or more of voting rights, and the right to appoint and remove directors.
All officer and ownership details are cited directly from official Companies House records. Listing these roles reflects statutory register facts and carries no implication of individual responsibility for the administration.
Recent filings and Gazette activity
The administration notice was published in The Gazette on 7 October 2026 under court reference CR-2026-007708. Aside from routine incorporation documentation filed in January 2025, no previous insolvency proceedings appear on the public record for this company.
Understanding corporate administration under Schedule B1
When a UK company enters administration under Schedule B1 to the Insolvency Act 1986, specific legal protections and duties are triggered immediately:
- Statutory Moratorium: An automatic moratorium comes into force, preventing creditors from instituting or continuing legal proceedings, enforcing security, or levying execution against company assets without court permission or administrator consent.
- Objective of Administration: Officeholders are appointed to manage the business and affairs of the company. Their primary objective is to rescue the company as a going concern, or secondarily, to achieve a better outcome for creditors than an immediate liquidation.
- Creditor Proofs of Debt: Unsecured counterparties must submit claims to the appointed administrators, who assess and rank claims in accordance with statutory insolvency order.
This summary provides general factual commentary and does not constitute formal legal or financial advice.
Assessing counterparty risk in commercial contracts
Credit control teams, property managers, and trade suppliers must take structured operational steps when a business counterparty enters administration.
Action plan for commercial creditors
| Stage | Action Item | Operational Focus |
| :--- | :--- | :--- |
| Immediate | Hold Deliveries & Credit | Freeze open lines of credit and review pending purchase orders. |
| Verification | Verify Court Listings | Perform a winding up petition search to review all linked court petitions and insolvency orders. |
| Security Check | Inspect Existing Charges | Conduct a company charge check to check registered fixed and floating security interests. |
| Claim Filing | Lodge Proof of Debt | Submit full documentation of outstanding invoices and contracts to the administrators. |
Practical scenario: Commercial supply risk
Consider a commercial supplier delivering goods on credit terms to a hospitality enterprise. When payments stall, running a prompt winding up search enables the credit control team to check court petition registries before dispatching further stock. Cross-referencing filing dates against official announcements allows suppliers to assert Retention of Title (ROT) clauses promptly before asset realizations commence.
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For credit teams, landlords and suppliers
Credit managers, commercial landlords, and trade suppliers face direct financial risk when a customer or tenant enters formal administration. Timely notification is essential to preserve contractual rights and prevent bad debt write-offs. Professional credit teams conduct a winding up petition search to monitor corporate counterparties across UK High Court registries.
FAQ
What does entering administration mean for a company?
Administration provides legal protection while insolvency practitioners evaluate options to rescue the business, restructure operations, or sell company assets for the benefit of creditors.
Can creditors take legal action against a company in administration?
No. The statutory moratorium under Schedule B1 of the Insolvency Act 1986 prevents creditors from taking or continuing legal action unless permission is granted by the court or the administrators.
How do unsecured creditors claim unpaid debts?
Unsecured creditors must lodge a formal Proof of Debt form detailing their claim and supporting invoices directly with the appointed administrators.
How can credit controllers detect insolvency filings early?
Credit controllers can perform a routine winding up search across High Court registers or set up automated alerts using free company monitoring.
What is the priority of payments in administration?
Statutory payment order dictates that administration expenses are paid first, followed by secured creditors, preferential creditors (including HMRC for specific taxes), floating charge holders, unsecured creditors, and lastly shareholders.