Bars owe $170,000 to liquor firm

The future of two popular Auckland nightspots is in doubt amid claims that they owe liquor suppliers $170,000.

Liquidation proceedings were filed in the High Court against Margaritas Bar and Crow Bar, formerly a popular celebrity hangout that U2 singer Bono has visited.

Auckland nightclub identity Megan McCabe is the sole director of Club Crow Bar Ltd and Sunset Entertainment Ltd which own the bars.

Receiver Paul Sargison, of Gerry Rea Partners, said the bars owed Oaks Discount Liquor Ltd a combined $170,000.

Oaks was placed in receivership last June and Sargison claimed the debts were a contributing factor.

Crow Bar Ltd owes $49,448.40, while Sunset Entertainment, which used to own Margaritas Bar, owes a further $120,165. The ownership of Margaritas has been transferred to Green Grass Ltd, of which McCabe is the sole shareholder and director.

Sargison said he would investigate the transfer and that Gerry Rea Partners' attempts to negotiate with McCabe had been unsuccessful.

Sargison said they tried to serve papers on McCabe at Saratoga Vineyard on Waiheke Island, which is owned by McCabe's father Dave.

He said the server asked an employee to identify McCabe before serving her the papers. That woman then denied she was McCabe.

A Saratoga Vineyard employee, who refused to give his name, claimed liquidation was impossible because neither McCabe nor her lawyer had been served any papers.

He said she had lived overseas for the past three years.

An employee at Crow Bar claimed it was all a "big mistake".

The employee read a statement from a manager, who declined to be named, which said: "Megan is not in the country.

"She hasn't been working at Saratoga Vineyard for more than three years.

"She doesn't live on the island and the company lawyer is going to file a motion to stop the liquidation."

Dave McCabe last year pleaded guilty to selling homemade spirits from branded bottles at Margaritas and the Hot Lava Bar in Ohakune.

Crow Bar's Facebook page describes it as an "Auckland institution".

But the venue was last year given an "E" hygiene rating.

Millionaire playboy Seeby Woodhouse had shares in the business until more than three years ago and used to party there with A-listers such as Nicky Watson.

Attempts to contact Megan McCabe were unsuccessful.