Lowlander in pre-pack restructure

Lowlander, the fledgling Belgian beer concept, has been restructured via a pre-pack administration.

The process has seen the group emerge with its original site in Covent Garden in a new company, but leave behind with administrators MCR a second site in the City of London — on Creechurch Lane.

Sources close to the company suggest it had attempted to negotiate a reduced rent at the lossmaking City site with landlord Southern Properties Group for more than a year.

It is believed that the group, which was founded by former Whitbread employees Aubrey Johnson and John Riddell, has paid its suppliers and bank Royal Bank of Scotland in full.

Investors in the group, which include operations director Ray McClement and chairman Jim Fallon, have re-invested in the business. It is thought that McClement, a former Food & Drink Group executive, will now oversee the day-to-day running of the business with Johnson taking more of a back seat. Riddell left the business some time ago.

Lowlander opened its City site almost three years ago.