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Bar Sport will not close, says boss amid £40k unpaid business rates storm

Bar Sport in Cannock will not close, says the boss – amid a storm over the non-payment of more than £40,000 worth of business rates.

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A compulsory winding-up order has been issued against The Premier Suite Cannock Ltd. Cannock Chase Council says the company owns Bar Sport, in High Green, and is the ratepayer. But bosses at the venue refute the claim, saying the bar is owned by Bar Sport Property Ltd. Scott Murray, Bar Sport Property boss, said: "The complete venue remains open as normal. This venue is owned by Bar Sport Property Ltd, and not owned by the Premier Suite. The venue now trades under the management of Bar Sport Franchise UK Ltd."

Cannock Chase Council said the compulsory winding-up order means The Premier Suite Cannock Ltd must now cease trading and the Insolvency Service will ensure this happens, securing any assets that the company has. The council said it had no record of Bar Sport Property Ltd owning the venue.

Head of finance at Cannock Chase Council Bob Kean said it would be the decision of the Insolvency Service whether Bar Sport closes but may be done if it was necessary to secure the assets.

But he said that if the property had been transferred to a different company prior to the making of the order, that new company could continue to trade from the venue. Cannock Chase Council leader George Adamson said: "The council never enjoys taking this sort of action against local businesses and does not do so lightly."

Bar Sport is in the same building as The Premier Suite, which is on the first floor above the venue.

"The council relies on business rates income in order to provide essential services to residents.

"This particular venue has a history of unpaid bills and it would be completely unfair to the residents and council tax payers of Cannock Chase to allow this company to get away with their non-payment."

But The Insolvency Service confirmed that The Premier Suite Cannock Ltd was now in liquidation but could not say if it owned Bar Sport.

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