Two Med Kitchen sites sold out of administration
The companies that control the Soho and South Kensington sites of restaurant chain Med Kitchen have been sold out of administration but a third site in Richmond is not expected to re-open.
The South Kensington site, in Gloucester Road, was thought to have closed for a short time following the administration of Med Kitchen Properties Limited. It was open today when contacted by Caterer and Hotelkeeper.
The second site, in Soho's Old Compton Street, operated by The Four ‘S' Corporation (Soho) Limited, is still closed but is expected to re-open shortly after it was also sold out of administration.
BDO, which acted as administrator for both companies said it had secured the sale of their businesses and assets on 29 November.
Martha Thompson, BDO business restructuring partner, said: "Both restaurants were exposed to difficulties as a result of the difficult economic climate. Principally, I am delighted that the sale will allow the restaurants to reopen with the possibility staff being offered back their jobs."
Med Kitchen's head office confirmed that the Richmond Riverside site in Heron Square is set to remain closed after it was handed back to its landlord.
The developments are the latest chapter in the chequered history of the Med Kitchen brand. Six former Med Kitchen and Cafe outlets in London were sold in April 2009 after former owner Winepage called in administrators.
Four of those sites in Islington, Clerkenwell, Covent Garden and St John's Wood, were bought back by the group's former managers Rupert Hill and Ray Defazio.
Hill and Defazio were still involved with the Med Kitchen sites in Soho, South Kensington before they went into administration, as well as the Richmond site. It is not clear at this stage who has bought the companies operating the Soho and South Kensington sites.
Administrators sell six ex-Med Kitchen and Café outlets >>
By Neil Gerrard
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