Two Dunedin eateries in liquidation

There have been two separate liquidations in Dunedin's hospitality sector, with the closure of the English-themed pub Madly British in the Exchange, and the Palms restaurant, overlooking Queens Gardens.

Madly British had been trading for about 20 months, while the Palms had been trading for about 20 years, latterly under different owners.

The closure of Madly British only came to light when a visiting English comedian arrived to find the venue closed, followed days later by publication that Above The Line (NZ) Ltd (trading as Madly British) had been placed in voluntary liquidation.

Above The Line (NZ) Ltd's sole director is Sudhanshu Ohri, who is a 50:50 shareholder with Raunaq [Ronnie] Bhogal, the latter a former Christchurch restaurateur and front man for Madly British, who said he had lost three restaurants and three shops in the February 2011 earthquakes in Canterbury.

Just days before Madly British went into liquidation, a fundraiser for Christchurch earthquake victims was held there by the touring English cricket fans' group, the Barmy Army.

Barmy Army spokesman Giles Wellington was contacted yesterday, and said $2100 had been banked from the Dunedin fundraiser. Following a similar event, yet to be held in Auckland, the combined total would be announced, then donated to the Christchurch recovery.

Attempts were made to contact Mr Bhogal yesterday, but he did not return calls.

Insolvency Management Ltd liquidator, Gus Jenkins, said he was still assessing Madly British's financial position, with a first report due shortly.

He preferred that Madly British be sold as a going concern, saying that a lot of money had been spent on the barely two-year-old fitting-out of the premises, which had been furnished to a high standard.

Aside from Mr Bhogal's Dunedin premises in liquidation, under the director names Ronnie, Raunaq or Ronauq Bhogal, two other companies are in liquidation. Those two entities are the Art of Pint & Curry (Ilam) Ltd and the Art of Pint and Curry Ltd. Mr Bhogal and Adipa Bhogal are also directors of Art of Pint And Curry (Merivale) Ltd, a company which is also in liquidation.

Dunedin Future Ltd, trading as the Palms, is also in the hands of Insolvency Management Ltd.

Its three directors and equal one-third shareholders are Angela Rohtmets, David Thomas and Ruth Williams, all of Dunedin. Iain Nellies, of Insolvency Management, said details were still being worked through, but there were several creditors involved.

- simon.hartley@odt.co.nz