No more heroes as Cram venture

HEROES of Sport, the restaurant franchise venture set up by athlete Steve Cram, has collapsed after six months.

The first restaurant, opened with a budget of £250,000, has been repossessed by Paul Aynge, owner of the Newport Lodge Hotel, Gwent, where it was located.

Mr Aynge said he decided to repossess the restaurant when unpaid rent built up to £17,000.

Mr Aynge is relaunching the restaurant today and has removed all the sporting memorabilia lent by stars such as Nick Faldo and Frank Bruno.

Mr Cram had planned to set up a nationwide chain with London-based restaurateur David Wilkins, under the company name Dining to Impress.

Mr Wilkins was unavailable for comment last week, while Mr Cram's agent said he was away in Australia.