Fattys boss in bid to buy back top diners

Robert Breare, former chairman of US-style diner chain Fatty Arbuckles, has admitted that he wants to buy back 10 of the group's most successful restaurants.

The chain went into receivership last week. A number of its restaurants closed and many staff were laid off (Caterer, 13 July, page 5).

Breare, who last month joined forces with Taipan Taverns to launch Noble House Leisure, a company that will target acquisitions in the pub and restaurant sector, will head the management buyout team.

Breare has entered into a conditional contract with the joint receivers, Alan Bloom and Andrew Wollaston, of accountant Ernst and Young.

The contract is conditional on the landlords of the restaurants giving consent to assign the leases to Noble House.

The 10 restaurants are in Bedford, Croydon in Surrey, Glasgow, Kettering in Northampton-shire, Liverpool, Salford Quays in Manchester, Southsea in Portsmouth, Rhyl in Wales, Stoke and Surrey Quays in London.

Noble House has launched a subsidiary of Taipan, called Whirlwind Restaurants. The Fatty Arbuckles restaurants will belong to Whirlwind.

Breare said: "If we are successful in getting consent from the landlords then we will buy the restaurants.

"I cannot disclose the price but it will be for several million pounds." Two of the restaurants were renamed Arbuckles American Café earlier this year.

Breare said he would spend 12 months converting the remaining eight to American Cafés.

He expects the deal to go through in the next 40 to 60 days.

by Louise Bozec