Tue 7th May 2013 - Breaking news - Botanic Inns goes into administration Botanic Inns goes into administration: Administrators have been called in to Northern Ireland’s biggest chain of pubs, award-winning Botanic Inns. The chain had stressed two weeks ago that it was business as usual at its pubs — despite a winding up order over one of its companies. Botanic Inns, which operates five pub businesses and an off-licence out of 14 venues in the group, faces a debt of more than £60,000 for its Belfast office headquarters, which was the subject of the winding up order. Almost all the other venues are under the ownership of sister company Kurkova Limited. Administrators KPMG are seeking a buyer for both Botanic Inns and Kurkova as the businesses have fallen victim to the economic downturn. John and Helen Miskelly, the landlord of the company’s Ormeau Road headquarters, had in April lodged a winding-up petition against Botanic Inns Ltd over a debt of £60,615. Botanic Inns grew into Northern Ireland’s biggest chain on the strength of its original pub, The Bot on Belfast’s Malone Road, under former owner Jas Mooney. The company vacated the office after the winding up order and has been using an office above its Horatio Todd’s venue in east Belfast as it headquarters. Of the news of the winding up order a fortnight ago, Colin Neill, chief executive of Pubs of Ulster, said: “We are disappointed to see the media coverage about the position the Botanic Inns group has been placed in by the landlord of one of their administrative buildings. The move by the landlord of the Botanic Inns group headquarter building will not impact on the day-to-day trading at bars and pubs owned by the group. We are working closely with the management at the Botanic Inns group and as one of our most high-profile members are confident that they continue to provide a quality offering. They have our full support.” Outlets that trade under Botanic Inns Ltd, all in Belfast, are The King’s Head, The Botanic Inn, off-licence Drink, Madison’s Hotel, The Elms and The Northern Whig. Two years ago administrators were appointed by the Republic’s bad bank Nama to Lanyon Trading and Lisk, owned by the County Clare-based landlords of those pubs. Botanic Inns is a tenant paying rent to administrators appointed by Nama, Keenan Corporate Finance. Botanic Inns has been named as one of the top 100 UK companies to work for in the past.