Arby's backers go bust after second launch
06 August 2001 by Ben Walker
Barown Restaurants went into voluntary liquidation last week following the second failed attempt to launch the US fast-food chain Arby's in the UK.
Its two restaurants - in Southampton, Hampshire, and Sutton, Surrey - have closed, and all staff were made redundant.
Senior administrator Martin Weller, of liquidators Redhead French, said that the company's debts were "quite substantial". More than £1m had been invested by shareholders when the two restaurants, which specialised in roast beef sandwiches, opened six months ago. A meeting with creditors was due to take place today (26 July).
In 1992 plans to have 100 Arby's in the UK also stalled after two restaurants, in London's Haymarket and Glasgow, closed.
