VAZON Bay Hotel and No. 44 Restaurant have closed, leaving staff in the lurch. Employees have been left homeless and without a job after Arete Holdings Ltd apparently went bankrupt.
Chairman Alan Jackson broke the news to Vazon Bay staff.
‘He told us he had messed everything up and it was all finished,’ Josie Vialli, 34, Mr Jackson’s PA, said yesterday.
‘We heard a whisper that Alan had been to court and liquidated all the companies.
‘He told us he had to because of all the debt they were in. We were then told that all the amenities would be switched off ‘next’ Monday and we had until then to leave.
Staff complained that little was being done to help them.
About 14 staff from the Vazon Bay and No. 44, an Indian restaurant, say they have no way of moving from their staff accommodation because they are owed nine days’ wages.
The Wayside Tavern, which was also owned by Mr Jackson, also closed recently but Miss Vialli, who is from Northumberland, said the pub had reopened because a businessman, believed to be Mr Jackson’s brother, Derek, had bought the lease.
Hospitality sector creditors have met to discuss the problems caused by Mr Jackson’s financial difficulties.
An industry source, who asked not to be named, said about 40 people attended.
‘I believe the businesses have now been liquidated,’ he said.
‘A substantial amount of money is believed to be owed, but it has not been confirmed exactly how much as yet.’
A civil case between Mr Jackson and Tony Gover, who formerly owned the businesses, is ongoing and staff said debts had spiralled since Mr Jackson bought the businesses in March.
Bar staff member Gemma Keating said that the businesses had been badly managed of late.
Mr Jackson, who used to work in the finance industry, had hardly been at the hotel during the last three months, she said.
‘He left us to deal with all the people coming around asking for money,’ said the 21-year-old.
Suppliers to the hotel had reportedly made staff pay cash on delivery for the last three months and Miss Vialli said that because Mr Jackson had not been there, they had not had the funds to buy supplies for the bar for four weeks.
‘We have been making runs to the shop to pick up beers to sell at the bar,’ she said.
‘Even some of the locals have brought in cases of beer for us to sell because they didn’t want to see us shut.
‘We haven’t had the money to do anything and it has been so embarrassing having to explain to guests why we couldn’t supply them with anything.’
Article posted on 1st December, 2007 - 12.00am
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