What makes entrepreneurs more or less resilient to adversity? Drawing on longitudinal data collected by the author on the 2011 London riots and their impact on small businesses and entrepreneurs, this illuminating case study focuses on the concept of resilience and adaptation in an entrepreneurial context. It brings together different strands of literature, from resilience and adaptation to crisis management, and across multiple fields of study including management, geography and psychology, to provide an accessible overview of resilience research. This novel study offers invaluable lessons and interventions for entrepreneurs, managers and other stakeholders.