A GASTROPUB that was to be the first of 15 such ventures in Ireland has debts of almost €3 million.

The GastroPub in Dún Laoghaire was set up in 2007 and was based on the successful UK concept of a pub which offered restaurant-type food at lower prices than a traditional restaurant.

The GastroPub Company Ltd, which ran the pub, owes €2,758,506 to unsecured creditors. The biggest unsecured creditor is Palazzo Properties, which is owed €1,682,632, and the second biggest is Rorke Properties, which is owed €489,502. The companies are owned by architects James Twomey and Michael Duff, who were the biggest investors in the project. Landlord Seán Duignan is owed more than €100,000 in rent.