Northern Ireland’s biggest pub chain is reported to be in administration but the pubs, restaurants and hotels will continue trading whilst administrators KPMG seek a buyer or buyers for the business.
Botanic Inns employs some 600 people in its 16 businesses, but has not been able to fight through the combination of reduced trading in the economic downturn, rent levels set prior to the donturn, and corresponding debt acquired before the doenturn.
Botanic Inns is the largest pub chain in Northern Ireland, its flagship being The Bot on Malone Road in Belfast.
Colin Neill, chief executive of Pubs of Ulster, is reported as describing it as ‘disappointing news’.