Two of Birmingham’s best known fine-dining restaurants have collapsed into liquidation – but are continuing under a new company.
Edmunds and Cielo in Brindleyplace – both run by brothers Chris and Cos Papachristoforou – have hit cash difficulties in another body blow to the city’s Broad Street district.
But Cos Papachristoforou claimed the future was ‘rosy’ for both restaurants despite the appointment of Walsall liquidators KJ Watkin.
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He denied that Edmunds had closed, and said: “Edmunds and Cielo have entered into liquidation – however, we are still operating under a new company.
"We are still trading at the moment and we have resolved a couple of internal matters.
"The future now looks like it should be a rosy one.
"A new company has taken over the running of Edmunds and Cielo. There are a number of reasons for this and I do not want to go into details.
"But I have had problems with one bank in particular. It is a horrible mess and a lot of people have lost money.
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"We felt that we had bottomed out with trading and the future now looks good.”
He said he would be in charge of the new business. “My brother will not. I am going to take a forward role on my own.
“My brother has had to go away for a week.
"It is very stressful. But I do not think that the customers will realize that anything will change.”
Details of the new company structure have not been revealed.
The Papachristoforou brothers have been involved in previous controversies.
In March 2012 top city chef Andy Waters quit Edmunds to work at The Queens pub in Belbroughton in a departure said to be acrimonious.
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Mr Waters said at the time: “I am disappointed to be going.
"The business cannot go forward any more, from a Michelin guide point of view or anything. It became an unsustainable business.”
Then in July 2012 Nuvo bar in Brindleyplace, also run by the two brothers, was placed in liquidation just three years after opening, but has continued to trade.