Hosts lose all in wake of Aviation Group collapse

by Graham Ridout

Licensees have little chance of receiving any money following the latest collapse of a pub placement company.

Aviation Group went into voluntary liquidation on 23 June after amassing debts of £540,920, leaving trade creditors owed £122,000 and at least five would-be licensees having each lost up to £5,000.

Manchester-based Aviation Group asked for an investment bond of up to £5,000 and lured people with the promise 'take over your risk-free business now. It offered 'in-house support and guidance for those without any previous trade experience, plus benefits of 'free accommodation, no bills and no financial risk.

Liquidator Claire Dwyer of Jones Lowdnes Dwyer said two of the secured creditors were the Yorkshire and NatWest banks, which were owed in excess of £191,000. Dwyer said: 'Whether, there is sufficient to pay the secured creditors is very doubtful and there will be nothing for unsecured creditors.

Ten pubs were trading under the Aviation name at the time of the collapse. A number of them were leased from pubco Provence and one, the Step Inn, Chorley, Lancashire, has been placed back on the market by the pubco.

Provence was unavailable for comment when the MA went to press.

When contacted and asked how the liquidation of Aviation Group had affected the Pig n Whistle, in Swineshead, Lin-colnshire, licensee Richard Smith commented: 'There were some things going on a while ago, but I still work for Aviation.

Dwyer said trying to obtain records and ascertain the financial standing of Aviation Group was 'a maze and she appealed for anyone affected by the firm's collapse to contact her on 0161 832 9454.