Kilmarnock pub and hotel owners go bust

Jul 3 2009 by Clair Fullarton, Kilmarnock Standard

A £1 million pub which opened in a converted bank just over two years ago and a long-established hotel are under threat.

The Howard Park Hotel is owned by the McKever Group, and the Riverbank, is owned by McKever’s subsidiary, Dark Star.

This week the McKever Group went into administration swiftly followed by the Dark Star a few days later.

However, both Kilmarnock establishments will continue to trade.

The McKever Group operates a nationwide chain of more than 20 hotels, apartments and hostels.

But last Thursday control of the business was handed over to accountants after months of wrangling over its finances.

The subsidiary Dark Star, is one of Scotland’s largest bar, restaurant and hotel businesses.

It has 14 premises throughout Scotland, including the Bank Street superpub and other property in Ayr.

Company owner, Alistair McKever, said after the Dark Star announcement: “This is another terribly sad day for all concerned. My colleagues and I are working with the administrator to secure the best outcome for both our staff and our creditors.”

Administrators Tenon Recovery have already promised that for the moment, it is business as usual.

And there are no immediate plans for redundancies.

The plan is to continue trading with a view to marketing the business for sale as a going concern.

Dark Star Limited employs approximately 280 staff and 600 are employed in the McKever hotel chain.

Administrator Kenny Craig said: “Dark Star has a portfolio of high quality bars, restaurants and hotels in good locations that are well-known in their local communities.

“Whilst not immune from the recent economic downturn, the units were performing relatively well and we are confident that the business will appeal to companies already operating in the licensed trade, or to entrepreneurs keen to enter the sector.

“It is therefore very much business as usual whilst we focus on finding a buyer or buyers as soon as possible.”

The Riverbank opened in December 2006, under the name of September 31.

It was housed in the former Bank of Scotland branch building which was closed in 2003.

The Howard Park Hotel was opened in 1975 at Glasgow Road, on what at the time was the northern tip of Kilmarnock.

For more than 25 years it was the largest and most significant hotel in Kilmarnock.