British off-licence chain Oddbins shuts Irish outlets

BRITISH OFF-LICENCE chain Oddbins, which entered administration earlier this year, has closed its shops in Ireland.

Oddbins directly operated four shops in Dublin – in Clontarf, Churchtown, Blackrock and Baggot Street – at the time of the appointment of the administrators. The company had also operated a store in Blanchardstown which closed earlier.

The Baggot Street branch has since reopened as Baggot Street Wines, managed by former Oddbins manager Garret Connolly. Former Oddbins staff are employed by the new company.

Oddbins entered administration in April after British Revenue and Customs, which was owed about £8 million (€9.15 million), decided not to back a rescue package which would have seen creditors accept 21 pence in the pound.

Thirty-nine stores had previously been offloaded by the firm as it battled to develop a restructuring plan.

Following the administration, 37 Oddbins stores in England and Scotland were sold to European Food Brokers, which trades as Whitall Wine Merchants. A small number of the remaining 48 stores, including the shop on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh, have been sold to individual buyers. Former Oddbins owner Simon Baile has also bought a number of London stores from the administrator.

A spokeswoman for administrators Deloitte yesterday said the company was not disclosing a regional breakdown of the stores now under the control of the administrators, but they are actively engaging with interested buyers.

Oddbins, which had been loss-making for most of the last 10 years, posted operating losses of £4.6 million in 2009, down from £8.3 million the previous year.

British wine sellers Threshers and Wine Cellar also closed their doors in 2009. Competition from supermarkets is believed to have contributed to their difficulties.