A company that operated five pubs in Cumbria has gone into liquidation.
Lakeland Inns Group Limited appointed a voluntary liquidator on March 31 this year, with debts to creditors totalling more than £870,000.
The company ran the Royal Oak in Curthwaite, the Black Cock Inn in Broughton, Clarke’s Hotel in Rampside, The Commodore Inn in Grange and The Sun Inn in Ulverston.
Companies House lists the directors of the business as Kirsty Amy Mackenzie, who owns a 75 per cent stake, and Charles Scott Mackenzie, who owns the remaining 25 per cent. Leonard Curtis of Preston has been appointed as the voluntary liquidator.
All of the pubs, except the Black Cock Inn, are currently still trading.
The group’s Statement of Affairs, which is available to view via the Companies House register, details debts of £873,453.14.
The statement lists the company’s assets at £439,993 and an unpaid tax bill of £374,425. The company also has an outstanding loan with HSBC totalling £212,500.
The company owes the Booking.com website, based in the Netherlands, just under £10,800, and utility firm Scottish Power £12,744, among other debts including car finance, printing, utilities and cleaning.
A number of local businesses are also listed as creditors for smaller amounts, including Carlisle-based JDS Building, Westmorland Laundry Services in Grange and Solway Heaters Ltd in Workington.
In July 2021, Lakeland Inns stepped in to save a famous historic pub from closure. The Ship Inn on Piel Island was at risk of closure after operating for more than 300 years.
Ms Mackenzie, with a group of other investors, set up The Piel Island Pub Co as a temporary measure to keep the business afloat. Having successfully avoided closure, the pub was bought in December 2021 by a new landlord and remains open.
Lakeland Inns Group has been approached for comment.
