A Scots hospitality firm at the centre of an ongoing spat with workers is in danger of going under after HMRC applied to have the company wound up.
Macmerry, which operates more than a dozen theme bars across Glasgow, Dundee and London, is the subject of a winding up petition that was filed at Dundee Sheriff Court on May 27.
The request to shutter the company was made by the Advocate General for Scotland on behalf of HMRC.
A posting on The Gazette, the UK Government's official journal of record, notes that HMRC requests Macmerry300 Ltd "be wound up by the Court and to appoint a liquidator."
HMRC has declined to comment on the exact reasons for its request.
A spokesperson said: “We support customers with tax debts and work with them to find the best solution based on their financial circumstances.”
However, the taxman generally moves to wind up companies when they have exhausted other means of chasing up tax debts.
Collectors prefer to cut Time To Pay (TTP) deals with businesses behind on their payments - moving to shut businesses down as a last resort.
The Record has seen what are purported to be letters from HM Revenue and Customs to Macmerry directors Phil Donaldson and AJ McMenemy requesting payment of overdue taxes.
The amounts, disputed by Mr Donaldson in previous correspondence with a Record reporter, run into hundreds of thousands of pounds.
Mr Donaldson previously said of the purported tax debts: "Your financial information is completely inaccurate."
Neither he nor Mr McMenemy have responded to further requests for comment following the Gazette posting.
However, members of trade union Unite's hospitality branch have reportedly been given assurances that jobs will be retained for as long as possible.
Bryan Simpson, of Unite Hospitality, said: "Unite members across Macmerry and Abandon Ship were shocked to be told by the Record that their employer may potentially go into liquidation, putting their jobs put at risk.
"We've since secured assurances from the director that everything that can be done to ensure 'absolutely everyone keeps their positions' is being done.
"Whatever happens to these companies, we are doing everything we can to ensure that every job is retained and that our members' terms and conditions are protected."
Macmerry runs bars including the Abandon Ship bars in Glasgow, Dundee and London, as well as theme bars such as Bird and Bear, Draffens and Nola in Dundee.
The company has previously been heralded as a major new player in Scotland's hospitality sector, but was rocked by a collective grievance filed by a group of almost 80 current and former workers earlier this year.
An investigation by the Daily Record unearthed claims of staff facing "systematic mistreatment" while working for the company.
Complaints ranged from sexual harassment and both health and safety and Covid breaches through to tax and pension deductions not being passed onto HMRC and pension provider Nest.
Macmerry was also accused of union-busting after suspending one pub union rep over what turned out to be unfounded claims about his conduct.
The firm has recently cut ties with Richard Davies, a graphic designer who ran the Abandon Ship bars in partnership with Donaldson and McMenemy.
Companies House records show Davies became a director at several firms linked to Macmerry businesses in February - but stepped down last month.
Davies - who has not responded to Record requests for comment since our investigation began - said on Instagram: "I had a frank and honest conversation with my business partner and operator of the bars and unfortunately we both realised that we have different paths we wish to take and that change was necessary."
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