Equipment supplier calls in liquidators

Caterers across the South-west of England who have paid Ken Wheeler Catering deposits to supply cooking equipment have probably lost their money after the group called in the liquidators.

Last week the Bath-based group asked Bristol accountants Bishop Flemming to handle the liquidation of the firm that had supplied caterers in the West for nearly 26 years.

None of those handling the winding up would say how many catering firms are owed money, but the company had hundreds of maintenance contracts to look after gas cookers and other equipment it had supplied.

One man who is upset about Wheeler's demise is Nils Hughes, who was seeking compensation from Wheeler after equipment the company supplied to his pub/restaurant was blamed for causing two fires that effectively spelt the end of his business (Caterer, 11 January, page 5). Hughes was forced to sell his interest in the Kings Arms pub and Chancel restaurant in Monkton Farleigh, near Bradford-on-Avon, and now faces bankruptcy unless he can agree terms with his creditors.

The Kings Arms has been sold to a former Allied Domecq pub manager, David Beeson.

Beeson, who is running the venture with his partner, former dancer Carys Hopkins, had previously looked at 95 pubs and restaurants to take over and was about to give up the search.

A meeting for those owed money by Wheeler takes place today. Contact Bishop Flemming on 0117 9248077.

By Miles Brignall