The landlord of a renowned Dundee restaurant which was forced to close this week has hit out at its owner in a row over unpaid rent and furnishings removed from the premises.
Arbroath chef Adam Newth took over the upmarket Castlehill restaurant in January and said on Tuesday he was “devastated” to announce the immediate closure of the business where he started his career as a chef seven years ago.
The 28-year-old said the restaurant had been listed for sale for some time before the announcement but no offers had been forthcoming.
However, a director of the firm acting as landlord for the Exchange Street premises said he was “shocked” to hear of the sudden closure because proprietor Mr Newth had given no indication the business was in trouble.
Steve Cumming, of Tayfield Investments Limited, said Newth Hospitality signed a 10-year lease with the firm in February and as recently as one week ago told him the restaurant was “performing well”.
“The first we heard of the closure was when it appeared in the online edition of The Courier,” Mr Cumming said.
“On hearing of the closure, my fellow director visited the premises at lunchtime on Tuesday and found that all fittings and fixtures had been removed in what appears to be a pre-planned exercise, and valuable catering equipment was being loaded into vans with connections to a co-director of Adam Newth in his latest venture.
“In approaching Adam Newth for payment of outstanding rent monies, we were told in an email that liquidators were to be appointed and not to waste money taking legal action as there is nothing to get and also that he is soon to be personally sequestrated.”
When approached by The Courier, Mr Newth said he believed on Monday he would be personally sequestrated as a result of the closure – meaning his possessions would be seized until debts are repaid – but this was no longer the case.
He insisted his other businesses remained unaffected by the closure and promised to honour all pre-paid vouchers and accommodate all bookings at his other restaurant in Broughty Ferry, the Tayberry.
Mr Newth said: “Obviously the closure has happened now but we were trying to find buyers for a while. It was on the market and we tried to do our best to sell it and save staff jobs.
“In terms of the fixtures and fittings – if you can’t find a buyer, what else can you do? You can’t just have a landlord come in and take all your stuff. That’s just how it is when you’re closing a restaurant.
“It wasn’t like we’ve taken his stuff, he’s just the landlord who owns the building. There is one month rent due to him but the business is being wound up and liquidators are going to be appointed in the next few days.
“The main thing we prioritised was to take the staff – the people who helped make the restaurant a success – and make sure they were well looked after. Our focus now is to move onwards and upwards.”
