Ex-Lamarr’s owner steps in for Centro
A BAR in Manchester’s Northern Quarter has changed hands after its previous owners placed it into administration.
Bar Centro in Tib St, which had been owned a father and son who were both named Joseph McGonagle through their company MCM Bars Ltd, called in administrator Kevin Lucas of Altrincham-based insolvency firm Lucas Johnson on March 20.
He has subsequently agreed a sale of the business and assets to Manchester Leisure, which is run by Rory O’Keeffe and his business partner. Mr O’Keeffe had previously owned and run the nearby Lammar’s bar on Hilton Street before selling the venue around three years ago.
The venue has temporarily closed while a refit takes place but will reopen within 2-3 weeks with a new identity and concept.
Administrator Kevin Lucas said its previous owners had bought the bar four years ago with a view to making it one of the cheapest in the Northern Quarter but had not achieved the volumes required to make enough profit. However, given its location a sale of the bar to new owners was likely and provides the best chance of a return to creditors.
He added that the were “several” interested parties, but negotiations with the landlord over the lease assignment took time to conclude.
The sale concluded on March 30.
