Up to 80 employees will be affected in nine branches around Northern Ireland with cafes in Antrim’s Junction shopping outlet, on Boucher Road in Belfast, in Derry’s Foyleside, Newtownabbey’s Abbey Shopping Centre, on Dobbin Road in Craigavon and The Linen Green in Moygashel, Co Tyrone. There are also Synge & Byrne cafes in Co Down’s Sugar Quay, Castlewellan Forest Park and Kilbroney Forest Park, Rostrevor.
Synge & Byrne Abbey Ltd, which owns and operates the Synge & Byrne coffee chain, is being assisted by the AAB Group during this process.
The hospitality brand was founded in 2014 by brothers Damien and Adrian Garvey, directors of the BWL Group registered at Cloughouge Business Park in Newry, Co Down.
In a statement, Synge and Byrne Abbey Ltd under which the cafes operate said the company’s staff and creditors have been advised of the situation.
There are also five other Synge & Byrne cafes in the Republic of Ireland as well as hospitality contracts, which are not affected.
In a statement on behalf of the company, a spokesperson said: “Synge & Byrne can confirm that its operations in the Republic of Ireland are entirely unaffected by the cessation of trading by Synge & Byrne Abbey Ltd in Northern Ireland.
“While both businesses operate under the wider BWL Group, the Republic of Ireland business functions as a separate legal and operational entity, and all trading continues as normal.
“Synge & Byrne continues to operate successfully at its locations in Galway and Blanchardstown and maintains its catering and hospitality contracts with the National Museum of Ireland and National Parks.
“There is no impact on staff, suppliers, customers, or services in the Republic of Ireland.”
Documents filed to Companies House in Belfast show Adrian Garvey stood down as a director of Synge & Byrne Abbey Ltd in December. Damien Garvey’s role as director remains active.
He said: “We are deeply sorry to have reached this situation. Despite our very best efforts to save the business, we have been unable to overcome the mounting difficulties we faced, not least the current market conditions impacting the hospitality sector, including soaring operating costs.
“This situation, combined with a growing debt burden, means we have no other option than to close our doors. We would like to thank the hundreds of talented and hardworking staff who have been part of our business over the past 12 years, as well as all the customers who supported us during that time.”
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