| Perth firm Morris & Young was brought in yesterday following the collapse of Orr Leisure Ltd, tenant of the Punch Taverns-owned Nine Maidens and “Doc Stewart’s”, properly known as The Downfield Hotel.
The pubs, run by Malcolm Orr and his staff for several years, were said to have been further casualties of the economic downturn.
However, liquidator Drew Kennedy, of Morris & Young, said today, “The telephone has been going with inquiries so, hopefully, a new tenant will come in. Possibly that will be for both pubs, but it is early days yet.”
He confirmed the closure of The Nine Maidens, in Laird Street, and Doc Stewart’s, in Strathmartine Road, had led to 29 staff losing their jobs.
Meanwhile, a Dundee woman today spoke of her “panic stations” hunt for a new venue for her silver wedding celebration after learning The Nine Maidens had shut.
Anne Glasson said she only found out about the closure of the pub — winner of the community pub category in the recent Dundee Best Bar None awards — when she read about it in yesterday’s Tele.
“Nobody has been in touch with me about it,” said Anne. “We were only in there the Saturday before Christmas as well to sort a few things out.
“I’ve paid a deposit and I don’t know what will happen with that. I’m sure there must be others in the same situation as us.”
The two pubs have long been at the heart of their communities and Anne said she and husband William chose the Nine Maidens for sentimental reasons, having regularly attended discos there.
She added, “It was panic stations when I read in the Tele it was shut. Our booking was for Valentine’s Day, so I thought it would be quite difficult to get a venue.
“Luckily, my niece and sister started looking and managed to find somewhere. The invitations are all done, so we will have to get new ones.”
Refunds on any deposits for bookings at the two venues will depend on when the money was paid, liquidator Mr Kennedy confirmed, while urging anyone anxious about getting money back to contact his company “immediately”. |
