Belfast's famous Botanic Inns chain, employing 600 staff across 14 pubs, hotels and restaurants - has gone into administration, facing a debt of more than £60,000 for its former headquarters at Delhi St, off Ormeau Road in Belfast. Almost all other venues are under the ownership of sister company Kurkova Ltd. However, administrators KPMG are seeking a buyer for both the Botanic Inns and Kurkova.
Originally a family-owned enterprise, the Botanic Inns has been trading since 1857. It grew into Northern Ireland's biggest chain under former owner Jaz Mooney and now runs 14 venues around Belfast, including The Globe, The King's Head and The Kitchen Bar.
According to the Irish Times, John Hansen and Stuart Irwin of KPMG were appointed as administrators to Botanic Inns and its parent company Kurkova Limited. The joint administrators say it is their intention that the venues will continue to trade as normal.
