Desperate plight of Provence licensees
Stories of desperate licensees are continuing to emerge in the wake of the collapse of pub company Provence and its managed arm Countrywide Inns.
Provence tenants and Countrywide Inns' managers have been emailing and telephoning The Publican to report how they have been affected.
All that has been officially confirmed is that Provence Commercial Properties and Provence Holdings went into administration on October 31.
One Countrywide Inns manager, Kevin Forster, found himself out of a job before he had even opened his pub. "I feel like I've been sh*t on from a great height," he said.
He was asked to take on the Goldmine in Shotton Colliery, County Durham, as a manager by Countrywide Inns.
He moved from his home in Darlington to the pub on Friday October 20 but by the following Monday he was sacked.
Mr Forster argues he is still owed a week's wages and £500 in expenses. "I'm now signing on and living back at my parents' house in Darlington," he added.
Chris and Louise Madin, tenants at the Provence pub the Barley Mow, in Worcester, were forced out of the premises by the company after a dispute over flood damage just prior to its collapse. "They claim a Provence representative told them: "We can find new tenants and your notice is in the post tonight."
Administrators for Provence Kroll issued a statement on Friday November 3 that read: "The Bolton-based companies have been placed in to administrative receivership and administration due to cashflow difficulties. No employees are employed directly by either business."
Ex-staff from Countrywide Inns' head office say that they have been paid their salaries. It is understood that cash has been paid into their accounts.
Mystery still surrounds the exact state of Countrywide Inns, the managed arm of Provence, as the company is still registered with Companies House.
All attempts by The Publican to put licensees' concerns to Peter Kiely have proved fruitless.
How one investor found out...
A pub investor, who wished to remain anonymous, says he only knew Provence had collapsed by reading the details on thepublican.com.
He owns one of the properties purchased at auction which Provence leased from him. He has been unable to get hold of anyone at the pub or Provence and fears he will lose the rental income.
"I actually phoned another pub in the village and they said it was closed. I need to find a way out of this as I am going to lose a packet on it," he said.
