Remaining pubs to be sold as Cougar Leisure enters administration

Pub and music venue owner, Cougar Leisure, has fallen into administration despite a last ditch attempt to sell off some of its assets.

Last June, the Chorley-based company sold off 11 of its pubs and bars through Christie & Co, including the Townhouse pub located in Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, to North-east based pub operator Wear Inns, as well as pubs in Romford, Liverpool and Edinburgh.

Following financial difficulties, Cougar called in Nigel Atkinson and Mark Fry of Begbies Traynor to act as administrators and to track down a buyer for the remaining six pubs and bars.

The remaining assets, which include a mix of freeholds and leaseholds tied to pubs spread across the North of the country, will again be sold through Christie + Co.

The portfolio, comprising the Brannigans-branded bars in Blackpool and Manchester, the popular live-music venue the Boardwalk in Sheffield, the Spirit and View sites in Manchester and the Mood-branded bars in Newcastle, can be purchased as a package or individually.

Director at Christie & Co, Simon Chaplin, said, "These sites generated significant interest from a range of parties when they initially came on to the market.

"We currently have deals agreed on two of the six and expect renewed interest in the remaining sites in administration. These centrally-located sites will appeal to both national and established local operators alike," he added.