Prominent Auckland bars face closure

Auckland's Minus 5 bar. Photo / Karl Woodiwiss

The future of four prominent Auckland bars is uncertain, after the companies that operate them went into receivership.

Craig Ling is the director of the three companies that operate Lenin, Dakota and Minus 5 bars in the Viaduct, and O'Carrolls Irish bar on Vulcan Lane. Minus 5 Auckland Ltd, Lenin Ltd and Irish Bar Company Ltd are under the control of receivers BDO Spicers.

Brian Mayo-Smith, of BDO Spicers, said Dakota had already closed when the receivers were appointed - by loan company South Canterbury finance - and they would be reviewing whether to reopen it.

"The other three bars will certainly continue to trade, and we have new management in place," said Mayo-Smith. "It's likely we'll put up the bars for sale as a going concern in due course."

Minus 5 opened in 2002 as the first in a line of "ice bars" Ling set up in several locations. The bar is made entirely of ice, and drinkers wear fur-lined coats and hats and drink cocktails from ice glasses.