Former employees of Filthy McNasty’s in Belfast have been informed that any outstanding wages owed by the company behind the now-demolished pub will not be paid.
Instead, they have been advised to seek financial assistance from Stormont’s Department for the Economy.
Filthy McNasty’s, operated by Bachus Inns Ltd, opened on Dublin Road in 2010 and closed its doors in December, along with its adjoining cocktail bar, Liquor XXX. The site is currently being cleared to make way for new student accommodation.
Administrators were appointed to Bachus Inns Ltd less than 24 hours before demolition work began last month.
The company, owned by former pharmacist Peter Dolan, had reported debts of £1.14 million to creditors in its latest accounts, covering the period up to July 2023.
While Dolan ceased being a director in 2010, he remains listed as the owner at Companies House.
Administrators FRP recently sent letters to former staff, confirming that the company can no longer make payments for their employment services.
Employees were informed that their employment was officially terminated on 31 December and advised to register as unemployed.
The letter also outlined that claims for unpaid wages, accrued holiday pay, redundancy, or notice payments may be eligible for support through the Department for the Economy’s redundancy payments service.
However, employees earning above the department’s maximum pay rate of £729 per week may have additional claims classified as either preferential or unsecured against the company.
Unite, which represents several impacted workers, has strongly criticised the handling of the situation. The union has pledged to support affected staff in securing any payments owed.
Union representatives have condemned hospitality employers who offload their financial obligations onto taxpayers while continuing to operate other venues under separate legal entities. They are calling for stronger licensing regulations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
Bachus Inns Ltd is part of the wider Bachus Group, which continues to operate several hospitality venues in Belfast, including The Perch, Rita’s, Sweet Afton, and The Points.
The company’s landlord, FMN Properties Ltd—also owned by Peter Dolan—is overseeing the student accommodation development at the Filthy McNasty’s site.
Dolan, alongside his wife Jacquelin, previously ran the Dungannon-based Jermon Group, a property investment firm that rapidly expanded before collapsing in 2011 due to the financial crash.
The firm’s bankruptcy left creditors facing losses exceeding £100 million. Despite this, Dolan’s hospitality ventures have continued, with additional Filthy McNasty’s locations opening in Nottingham and Newcastle in the years following the Belfast launch.
Bachus Group has been approached for comment.
