Companies which own two high profile city centre pubs have gone into administrative receivership.

The problems at the Courthouse in Manor Row and BD1 in Ivegate follow the recent opening of at least ten new pubs and restaurants in Bradford city centre.

Bradford Inner City Licensing Association had already warned that the city was at saturation point and now a drinks price war has broken out.

The companies in receivership are Singsong (Bradford) Ltd which developed the Courthouse, and Perfect Combination Ltd which runs BD1. They have the same director John Donague.

Today Mr Donague said he had brought the receiver in jointly with Mansfield Brewery Ltd, which had invested with the companies.

"We have to clarify the situation, but we have got about 25 staff and businesses we are proud of and it seemed the right thing to do. The important thing is to maintain the quality of those businesses. They will run on a day to day basis."

He said it was not a case of over supply because of the large number of licences in the city centre

"There is a degree of uncertainty about the company."

Administrative receiver Peter O'Hara of O'Hara &Partners, Huddersfield said the businesses were a going concern and a number of people had expressed interest.

He said there were about 24 creditors owed a "relatively large amount."

Chairman of the Council's economic strategy sub-committee Tony Cairns said: "This is a great shock, especially when the licensed trade in the city centre seems to buoyant. I hope this is a blip."

A Council licensing chief said today the authority would not be limiting entertainments licences.

Councillor Malcolm Slater, chairman of the licensing sub-committee said:" It is a competitive situation and people survive if they satisfy the market."

BD1 opened just three months ago next to the new trendy Edwards Bar.

Highsong - which was involved in the redevelopment - turned the historic former county Court building in Manor Row into a pub and wine bar two years ago. The redevelopment cost in the region of £750,000.

Last year the company said it also wanted to open a nightclub in Manor Row to meet the demand.

The receivership bombshell came as the Council's licensing sub-committee granted the city's first 24 hour entertainments licence from 10am to 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays to the Nexus Wine Bar in Great Horton Road, Bradford yesterday.

Its owner Fazal Hussain said he wanted the licence to stop the drain of business to Leeds where pubs and clubs were open all hours.

He said people were queuing at the Interchange to get to Leeds which was open after many Bradford city centre premises shut.

But he said the authorities should cut the red tape surrounding 24 hour licences and encourage people to apply.

But chairman of Bradford Inner City Licensing Association David Haigh said cut throat competition with cheap drinks offered by operators who could afford and it was hitting other smaller businesses.

Bar wars

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