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Irish Times
4 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Workman's Club examinership extended to July 10th after good progress to ensure survival
The High Court has extended the examinership of the Workman's Club Ltd in Dublin, part of the former Press Up hospitality and entertainment group, after hearing efforts to ensure its survival are progressing well. Ms Justice Eileen Roberts said on Thursday she was satisfied to extend the examinership to July 10th following submissions from barrister Declan Murphy, for the examiner, Declan McDonald of PwC. It seemed good progress was being made with a fully funded-proposal investor, the judge said. As the examiner had expressed the view the company has ability to trade until July 10th, she would extend the examinership until then, the judge said. READ MORE [ High Court confirms appointment of examiner to Workman's Club Ltd Opens in new window ] Mr Murphy earlier told the court that matters had proceeded 'more speedily than is ordinarily the case but we don't want to jinx it'. If a successful scheme of arrangement is proposed and voted on, the examiner would notify the court and a date can be set for a hearing, he said. The judge wished the examiner luck with his engagement in the weeks ahead. Press Up was founded by businessmen Paddy McKillen junior and Matthew Ryan. It was renamed the Eclective Group last February following its take over and running by Cheyne Capital. [ Workman's Club heyday: Where we rubbed shoulders with Paul Mescal, Fontaines DC and Morrissey Opens in new window ] Press Up, at its height, operated some 50 bars, restaurants and hotels with 1,600 employees. It now operates 12 Dublin venues, including Peruke and Periwig on Dawson Street, Doolally on Richmond Street, and the Workman's Club on Wellington Quay. It has 55 full time employees out of a total of 362. When the application to appoint an interim examiner was made early last month, the court was informed the company has an excess of liabilities over assets and is unable to pay debts as they fall due. In October 2021, the group was refinanced to the tune of €55.5 million by Cheyne Capital and deleveraging began with the selling off of the hotels in the group, the Dean and Clarence, the court petition stated. Full deleveraging did not take place and Cheyne took over management in July 2024 when it says it discovered depleted stock levels, substantial arrears to suppliers, deferred maintenance and limited reinvestment. It was decided four of its operating entities would enter receivership so the core business and a broader restructuring could take place, along with an injection of new money from Cheyne which took 95 per cent of the group's shareholding in a debt for equity swap and installed its own management team.
Irish Times
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Irish Times
Workman's Club heyday: Where we rubbed shoulders with Paul Mescal, Fontaines DC and Morrissey
For a generation of Dubliners , The Workman's Club on Wellington Quay, which has gone into examinership , was a habitat at some stage. Of course nobody who made it their community hub would have dared say they were doing it purposefully. They weren't 'creating culture'. That would have been too earnest, too self-important. The regulars preferred to feign apathy ironically. But in their Doc Martens and thrifted faux furs, over Zaconey and Cokes and under tarps sagging with Dublin rain, passing bags of Amber Leaf around, they were constructing the DNA of a city's creative generation. It was a space that could be anything. 'I've had sober nights, drunken nights, great gigs, sh**e gigs, kissed princesses, kissed toads, and had a panic attack when my girlfriend dumped me in the smoking area. The Workman's Club was the start of everything,' says Andrew McGurk of the band A Lethal Black Ooze. 'It was home for us. We went, over and over.' Opened in 2010 in the shell of a down-at-heel Liffeyside building, Workman's arrived at a time when other venues had become, in the minds of some, greatest-hits bars masquerading as an alternative stronghold. Gavan O Huanachain, a DJ at the time, recalls, 'The idea behind it was to take on Whelan's.' The founders were people who felt let down by what they saw as other venues' restrictions. So a vagabond team assembled and attempted to fill the perceived vacuum with rough edges and sticky floors. The risk paid off quickly because Workman's won Hot Press's Best Venue award within its first year. READ MORE By 2011, it was flooded nightly by artists, musicians, theatre kids and anyone cosplaying as same. It wasn't designed as a queer space, but it was one in practice. It wasn't marketed as a creative incubator, but it was that too. The smoking area acted like Dublin's creative CERN where people crossed social divides. Here NCAD students flirted with IADT designers, Dramsoc kids argued with Players playwrights. Shamim de Brún Dublin winemaker Killian Horan recalls having great nights with the Trinitones . Theatre house techs met sound engineers. The cultural collisions reverberated far beyond its walls. The Cellar became a refuge for creative experiments. 'It felt like the only place you could try something without having to be polished,' remembers Aiesha Wong, who waitressed there during college. 'The upstairs bar was where I accidentally landed my first modelling gig after chatting to a photographer about his camera. Things like that just … happened.' You could turn a corner and see trained ballerinas doing the worm on a Wednesday night. Plays were conceived in that smoking area. You could see the same people ad nauseam and still find the place unavoidably compelling. Relationships started and ended. Bands were formed. Friendships were forged. It was where actors met musicians, comedians met poets, and everyone knew the bartenders (Christina, Daragh, Karl, Ciarean) and the bouncers (Ivan was one) by name. Blood Red Shoes on stage at The Workman's Club in 2023. Photograph: Kieran Frost/Redferns Everyone was 'a creative'. Everyone was discovering 1980s synth pop for the first time because they were born in the 1990s. Entire Facebook groups were devoted to regulars, like Saul Philbin-Bowman, whose popularity led to the creation of the Facebook group 'Ohmygod you know Saul too'. It became a surprise hit with celebrities of a certain ilk. You would be unlikely to catch Beyoncé, Britney Spears or other mainstream pop stars. But Grace Jones appeared. Jake Gyllenhaal allegedly sipped a Guinness there in 2012, triggering an early viral Twitter storm as punters hurtled down the Liffey quays hoping to spot him. There were sightings of Foals, Franz Ferdinand, Michael Cera, The Brian Jonestown Massacre, Alt-J, Miles Kane, Simon Harris, Robert Plant, Happy Mondays and the most millennial star of all time, Harry Potter himself, Daniel Radcliffe. DJ Claire Beck recalled in an interview a few years ago playing an Interpol track one night and being interrupted by drummer Sam Fogarino himself standing in front of her. There was even a bloke from the US version of The Office, and Hank from Breaking Bad. Morrissey created the biggest stir. Everyone had a story to tell about being there when he was, but they were all on different days, and at different times. McGurk recalls, 'Morrissey … who was staying in The Clarence one night, even came to see my band Spies. That was surreal.' [ Morrissey in Dublin review: There's a surprise towards the end of this cathartically cranky gig Opens in new window ] Claiming to have seen Morrissey in the venue back before Workman's was ubiquitous became such a trope it ended up in listicles and spawned memes. Trevor Dietz, formerly The Workman's clubnights manager and its Somewhere? Wednesdays originator told Golden Plec in 2015 that The Smiths frontman had been in on 'four of five occasions', which may explain the confusion. Of course the celebrity sightings added an air of legitimacy to the place but it also built a reputation for being the place to see bands before they were famous. Bastille performed their Dublin debut in Workman's to just 25 people. Aiesha Wong says: 'At the time, it felt like a magnet for Dublin's artsy, alt, 'let's-start-a-band' crowd.' Breakout bands Fontaines DC and The Murder Capital were regulars at Workman's in their early days; both on stage and as fans. In fact, Murder Capital frontman James McGovern reminisced in a Far Out Magazine piece , that 'Workman's is where it all started for us,' describing how in the years before their 2019 debut album the band hung out at Workman's with all their mates in other young bands, 'cutting our teeth'. Journalist Callum MacHattie called it 'the university of indie music for Dublin bands'. [ Grian Chatten of Fontaines DC: 'We were speeding off the edge of a cliff' Opens in new window ] Though Workman's was predominantly a music venue, it didn't limit itself to just one form of art. The vintage room hosted, and hosts still, a wide variety of stand-up comedy, theatre, fundraisers and the occasional open mic night. It hosted a release party for Emilie Pine's seminal book Notes to Self , published by Tramp Press. Poet Emmet O'Brien performed many of his poems now recommended for the Junior Cert syllabus there. Breakout star of comedy Small Town, Big Story, Peter McGann , recalls: 'My big thing with Workman's is when I would do the Pulp Injection radio plays. They'd always be put on on a Monday or a Tuesday, and each one would dissolve into a massive school night session … the whole cast would have pints … bought for us by people who came to the show. We'd be dancing away to the DJ till all hours and then we'd have to crawl out of bed the next day to get to work.' The fashion was a big part of it too. Fedoras were everywhere. As were moustaches and moustache tattoos. There were multiple ironic takes on the 'fur coat, no knickers' look. Former regular, Carly Murphy, says: 'I have a recollection of some fabulous emo-esque ride in a huge brown bear coat at the top of the stairs coming down when I was going up.' It was also messy. Every scene worth mythologising has its narcotic haze. One was either into Zaconey and Coke or Cute Hoor pale ale. Peter McGann had many a night slide into Cute Hoor-fuelled carnage. 'Cute Hoor was like rocket fuel. It was like a pint of Buckfast and cocaine in how it made you carry on.' For nights like that, what mattered wasn't who might be there. It was who was there. Regulars here would go on to write books, star in Love/Hate, the Meteor ad, prestige TV, or become Paul Mescal . Others would also go on to be teachers, nurses, gardaí, journalists, doctors, engineers. Many, however, forged careers in the creative industry, in part thanks to connections made at Workman's. Now, as it slips into examinership in an attempt to save itself, will the generation that built it up let it go? Will they return in their droves to indulge the nostalgia of their misbegotten youth? Or will other upstarts come along and create a new space for the next generation of creatives to call home?
BreakingNews.ie
19-05-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Court confirms examiner to Workman's Club as Dublin venue unable to pay debts
The High Court has confirmed the appointment of an examiner to Workman's Club Ltd, part of the former Press Up hospitality and entertainment group founded by Patrick McKillen jnr and Matthew Ryan. Ms Justice Eileen Roberts said on Monday she was satisfied to appoint Declan McDonald of PwC as examiner to the company. Advertisement The confirmation of Mr McDonald as examiner follows a petition for court protection brought on behalf of the company by Kelley Smith SC, instructed by Gavin Simons, partner in AMOSS solicitors, earlier this month. Mr McDonald was appointed as interim examiner to the company following that petition. The company runs the Workman's Club, a bar and live music venue on Dublin's Wellington Quay close to Temple Bar. Declan Murphy BL, for Mr McDonald and instructed by Matheson, told Ms Justice Roberts his client, after preparing an interim examiner report, was of the opinion the company had a reasonable prospect of survival as a going concern. The judge noted the emergence of some potential investors in the company. The court had previously heard the company has an excess of liabilities over assets and is unable to pay debts as they fall due. Advertisement The application to confirm Mr McDonald as examiner was not opposed by a number of creditors represented in court, including the Revenue Commissioners, financiers RELM Capital, and Lolapop Ltd, the landlord of the Wellington Quay property. The judge made orders joining the creditors as notice parties to the proceedings. Press Up was renamed the Eclective Group last February following its take over and running by Cheyne Capital. Press Up, at its height, operated 50 bars, restaurants and hotels with 1,600 employees. Advertisement Ireland Firm linked to Press Up group makes fresh bid to b... Read More In October 2021, the group was refinanced to the tune of €55.5 million by Cheyne Capital and deleveraging began with the selling off of the hotels in the group, the Dean and Clarence, the court petition stated. Full deleveraging did not take place and Cheyne took over management in July 2024 when it says it discovered depleted stock levels, substantial arrears to suppliers, deferred maintenance and limited reinvestment. It was decided that four of its operating entities would enter receivership so that the core business and a broader restructuring could take place along with an injection of new money from Cheyne which took 95 per cent of the group's shareholding in a debt for equity swap and installed its own management team. The company now operates 12 Dublin venues, including Peruke and Periwig on Dawson Street, Doolally on Richmond Street, and the Workman's Club on Wellington Quay. It has 55 full-time employees out of a total of 362.
Irish Times
19-05-2025
- Business
- Irish Times
High Court confirms appointment of examiner to Workman's Club Ltd
The High Court has confirmed the appointment of an examiner to Workman's Club Ltd, part of the former Press Up hospitality and entertainment group founded by Patrick McKillen jnr and Matthew Ryan. Ms Justice Eileen Roberts said on Monday she was satisfied to appoint Declan McDonald of PwC as examiner to the company. The confirmation of Mr McDonald as examiner follows a petition for court protection brought on behalf of the company by Kelley Smith SC, instructed by Gavin Simons, partner in AMOSS solicitors, earlier this month. Mr McDonald was appointed as interim examiner to the company following that petition. The company runs the Workman's Club, a bar and live music venue on Dublin's Wellington Quay close to Temple Bar. READ MORE Declan Murphy BL, for Mr McDonald and instructed by Matheson, told Ms Justice Roberts his client, after preparing an interim examiner report, was of the opinion the company had a reasonable prospect of survival as a going concern. The judge noted the emergence of some potential investors in the company. The court had previously heard the company has an excess of liabilities over assets and is unable to pay debts as they fall due. The application to confirm Mr McDonald as examiner was not opposed by a number of creditors represented in court, including the Revenue Commissioners, financiers RELM Capital, and Lolapop Ltd, the landlord of the Wellington Quay property. The judge made orders joining the creditors as notice parties to the proceedings. Press Up was renamed the Eclective Group last February following its take over and running by Cheyne Capital. Press Up, at its height, operated some 50 bars, restaurants and hotels with 1,600 employees. In October 2021, the group was refinanced to the tune of €55.5 million by Cheyne Capital and deleveraging began with the selling off of the hotels in the group, the Dean and Clarence, the court petition stated. Full deleveraging did not take place and Cheyne took over management in July 2024 when it says it discovered depleted stock levels, substantial arrears to suppliers, deferred maintenance and limited reinvestment. It was decided that four of its operating entities would enter receivership so that the core business and a broader restructuring could take place along with an injection of new money from Cheyne which took 95 per cent of the group's shareholding in a debt for equity swap and installed its own management team. The company now operates 12 Dublin venues, including Peruke and Periwig on Dawson Street, Doolally on Richmond Street, and the Workman's Club on Wellington Quay. It has 55 full time employees out of a total of 362.
BreakingNews.ie
12-05-2025
- Business
- BreakingNews.ie
Judgment for €8.7m sought against Patrick McKillen junior by finance company
A finance company which funded loans to companies associated with Patrick McKillen junior is seeking judgment of some €8.7m against the businessman, the Commercial Court heard. Cabriz Finance Ltd, of Riverside Road, Carrickmacross, Co Monaghan, claims Mr McKillen, with an address for communication at Ely Place, Dublin, provided various guarantees and indemnities for four loans to four companies. Advertisement The companies, Welltrack Ltd, Yarnway Ltd, Ahlstom Ltd and Dontigo Ltd, defaulted on the loans, and Mr McKillen failed to pay the money due despite a demand, Cabriz says. The loans and guarantees/indemnities were entered into December 2022, January 2023 and August 2023, it says. The purpose of the loans was to facilitate working capital requirements of the companies. On Monday, an application on behalf of Cabriz to enter the case into the fast-track Commercial Court was rejected by Mr Justice Mark Sanfey. The judge said it was a requirement of the commercial list that parties should move with expedition. But in this case, there was default in December 2023 but it was not until April of this year that the demand for payment was made. There had not been expedition in this case, and he would not include it in the commercial list, which means the matter must now go through the normal High Court list. Earlier this month, the High Court appointed an interim examiner to Workman's Club Ltd, part of the former Press Up hospitality and entertainment group founded by Mr McKillen junior and Matthew Ryan.
