Liverpool pub & club owner bankrupt

The former owner/operator of some of Liverpool's leading pubs and clubs has been declared bankrupt with personal debts of around £2.6m.

Over two decades, Rob Gutmann built an empire of pubs, clubs and restaurants and was credited with helping to transform the city's nightlife.

Some of the venues that Gutmann operated included the Lyceum Café, Blue Bar & Grill, Baby Blue, Babycream, Pan Am, Alma da Cuba and music bar Korova.

Baby Blue operated as a private club and was popular with footballers and cast member of the TV soap Hollyoaks., while Korova was popular with musicians such as the Arctic Monkeys and Pete Doherty.

Gutmann's company Korova Corporation went into administration in August 2008. At the time, critics said Gutmann had acted to quickly in expanding his company and the business model was unsustainable.

Earlier, another of his ventures, the Lyceum Company, was also placed in administration.

London-born Gutmann's debut in the leisure industry began after completing a degree course in history at Liverpool University.

During his studies, he was less than impressed with the city's bar culture.

In 1993, he bought the Lyceum Café for £250,00 and four years old it for £600,000 and then used the money to expand the business.