Kurnia Group exits retailing with sale of Cloud Bar in Lincoln

12-Nov-2012 - Last updated on 11-Mar-2017 at 20:14 GMT

Deal: New owners Mark Cumming & Christopher Regan with Michael Kheng

The Kurnia Group has sold its last remaining outlet, the Cloud Bar, marking the end of the Lincolnshire-based group’s retailing business, which is led by operator Michael Kheng.

The Cloud Bar in Lincoln has been taken over by a local company headed by Christopher Regan who has two other outlets in the city and last year invested over £400,000 in the Ye Olde Crowne Inn. He also owns the Broadstone Bar in Retford.

Kheng will now concentrate on his consultancy business, Kurnia Licensing Consultancy, which was set up over seven years ago to assist the hospitality industry in legal and training matters.

“Although we are no longer retailing my company still retains the freehold of some pubs within our property portfolio so I guess we are still involved in a small way in retailing as I need to make sure our tenants in the sector are supported,” said Kheng.

“My time is being taken up more and more dealing with licensing issues around the country and I found I had less time to commit to the retail side of the company. It will be sad in a way not to be retailing but life moves on and you have do what you enjoy doing. I have over 400 clients over England which certainly keeps me busy.”

Regan said his long-term goal is to create a group of pubs and bars that are different, unique and fresh for the industry.

“I have no major plans to change the Cloud Bar at this stage,” he said. “I love the venue and the style fits well within our model. Once we have been trading there a while we will see if feel any changes are needed and if so then we shall look at implementing them in 2013.”