One of the firm’s Warwickshire venues is the Peacock in Oxhill (Image: Wolf Club Collective)
A UK pub firm was nearly £800,000 in debt when it was liquidated, a report has revealed. Its owner insists that the situation is a success story, as the firm’s venues remain open. The Express reported earlier this month that Happy Wolf Pub Company Ltd. had collapsed.
Afterwards, the director of its replacement, Jack McEntee, 34, of The Wolf Cub Collective Ltd., said his operation is on a much surer footing. Now, a statement of affairs has suggested that the old company had run up debts of £767,857.78, including £141,899.73 and £253,494.62 to HMRC for PAYE and VAT, respectively. Usually, during a firm’s liquidation, most unsecured company debts are written off, provided there are insufficient assets to pay them.
The Express was told that individuals were allegedly let go by Happy Wolf, who then had to contact the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) “to get paid what was owed to them”. But Mr McEntee said he does “not recognise that characterisation”, and that his “staff were made redundant in accordance with the process, and were immediately offered new roles within the successor business, which they accepted, and they continue to be employed”.
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Jack McEtee has insisted his business is in good shap following a previous firm’s liquidation (Image: Jack McEtee)
The Companies House document detailed the old company’s creditors, including: Barry the Butcher in Stratford-upon-Avon (nearly £11,000), Smartest Energy in Sussex (just over £20,000) and Hallgarten Wines in Luton (just over £11,000).
Mr McEntee said: “Any employees who had left the business prior to liquidation were paid all amounts due to them. We take our responsibilities to our team seriously and have worked to ensure continuity of employment wherever possible.”
He added that any insolvency process is “clearly challenging”, but that he believes “important to reflect the full context”.
“The steps taken were focused on protecting jobs, preserving the venues, and ensuring the business could continue in a sustainable way,” Mr McEntee said.
His venues in Warwickshire – the Cherington in Shipston on Stour, the Peacock in Oxhill and the Yew Tree in Avon Dassett – continue to operate, staff remain employed, and the business is “able to move forward in a more stable position”, the businessman added.
Mr McEntee explained that the figures referenced in the statement of affairs relate to the formal liquidation of Happy Wolf Pub Company Ltd., which “followed a prolonged period of significant cost increases and well-documented challenges across the hospitality sector”.
He said: “This was not a case of debts being ‘written off’ at discretion, but a regulated legal process overseen by licensed insolvency practitioners, ensuring all creditors are treated fairly and in accordance with statutory requirements.
“It is also important to recognise that the total figure includes a mix of financial liabilities, including lending arrangements and contractual commitments that arose as a result of the liquidation process, rather than solely outstanding trade balances to local suppliers.
“Throughout this period, the priority was to protect the long-term future of the venues, safeguard jobs, and preserve value where possible through a structured and transparent process, including the proper sale of assets and goodwill.
“Like many operators, we faced sustained pressure from rising costs and seasonal trade fluctuations, and the decision to restructure was taken responsibly and with professional advice.
“Our focus now is on building a stable and sustainable business going forward, continuing to operate venues that support local employment and contribute positively to the local economy. We remain committed to maintaining strong relationships with suppliers and partners as we move forward.”
Mr McEntee has also highlighted that sister brand WanderBar continues to expand across the Midlands, with new openings and partnerships planned for 2026.