Local businesses have been left owed thousands of pounds by the collapsed Sweet Charlies dessert shop in Newport, which shut its doors at the beginning of the year.
The once much-loved eatery opened back in May 2021 and proved hugely popular, offering delicious tasty treats and snacks. However, at the start of 2023, the business’ owners, Charlie and Dave McLoughlin, admitted they needed help.
A £35,000 fundraiser was launched but just days later it was announced that the doors were to close – although it was insisted at the time that it was only a ‘temporary’ measure.
Then, in March, Southampton-based Begbies Traynor was appointed to oversee financial matters for OCD Ventures Ltd.. The rapid rate of inflation, as well as issues around staffing levels, were blamed for the situation developing.
It has now been revealed exactly how much has been left owed – a total of £131,961.
A statement of affairs shows that £73,099 is owed to banks and institutions, £17,514 to trade creditors, £16,814 to 14 employees and £6,500 to the building’s landlord. There are a total of 24 company creditors and 14 employees.
The preferential creditors have been identified as the out-of-pocket employees, who will receive just £2,133 of the £16,814 owed. His Majesty’s Revenue and Customs – which is owed £18,800 – has also been identified as the 2nd preferred creditor, but there is no money available to pay the tax liabilities.
The highest amount owed to a single creditor is £31,772 to HSBC, followed by £18,800 to HMRC, £18,000 to Cherry Godfrey and £10,500 to K&P Joyce.
Such a shame it was a lovely place and the people were so friendly. Same has happened to so many businesses through and after covid. I hope they are OK and will come through this in one piece.
Anyone can be friendly when conning money from your purse, wallet, phone or card.
Jimmy Saville seemed ‘friendly’ and kindly to others.
Actions will always speak louder than words.
I guess you believe those shop, pub or cafe staff who say ‘have a nice day’ or ‘enjoy your meal’ they couldn’t care less, just want to keep their dull jobs and income.
It’s a shame the staff are not getting what they are owed. If I was Charlie and David I would be working all hours god sent to repay the poor staff they let down. The sad thing about it is they are still living their lives like this didn’t effect them.
I agree- even got the cheek to say they are thinking of buying The Breeze – let’s hope no banks lend them the money to ruin another business and bankrupt it
They have never once said they were thinking of buying the breeze, I read the comments on the post? Said it was a lovely location etc but couldn’t afford to do it. What do you get out of lying? Likes?
Buying with what? Hopefully, they can’t afford anything after rinsing the banks, suppliers, staff and all the rest.
And went to the Isle of Wight festival should of Gav them the money they spent there
If you know David, you’ll know he does put in many hours at work. What would be even sadder than them living their lives is staying in, curling up into a ball and crying about it. What good would that do? You have to carry on. It’s a horrible situation for them and anyone else but be realistic, moping won’t help.
Come off it. They borrowed piles of money and didn’t pay their bills or staff. Not decent people.
Hope all the donations were returned too the foolish people that were stupid enough too donate!
So lucky no-one else was conned into giving ‘help’ to these artful people.
No doubt they will start again after a short interim period under another guise, and leave all those owing to pay for their folly of running a sweet shop in a credit crunch, pandemic and now interest rate hike, when people who MUST buy sweets can grab a bag at any supermarket.
For that reason I wouldn’t have been investing.
Try buying a Gabion cage at Tesco.
The fact that you think it was a sweet shop clearly shows that you have no idea what you are talking about
And to think they used to spend hundreds in Morrisons with a staff discount card then charge customers so much more.
A business that was trying to make a profit by buying something in as cheap as possible and then selling it for more?? No way get out of here. How dare they. I’m sure the shops you go to sell it for less than they paid for it just out of kindness. Muppet
Staff discount cards are private use not business use
There are so many rogue traders trading.
Yes, and trading standards do nothing… swigging their coffees all day and gorging on dohnuts instead of chasing bad traders. Trust me, I know.
Trading Standards couldn’t catch a Ball
or catch a cold
An absolute disgrace! I hope they get what’s coming to them! Scum ripped people off all the time!
“proved hugely popular” Erm, not really, they didn’t attract enough customers to make a profit.
It is blatant theft, you know if you’re business is in trouble,….
And to keep ordering stock you know your never going to pay for is sick ,other businesses could go under if scumbags don’t pay ….
And as for a go fundme page ?????
That had to be the biggest scam ever …..
Although I expect we are funding you now …
Unemployed……
These sweet shops are a con. Been going on for a few years, big in London. Used to launder money. Staff have no idea what is happening. Government know about this, been widely reported, but do nothing as they are at war with the people and do everything to help their wealthy mates launder money.
Google it. And whilst you at it, google all the art storage facilities that are based at air ports. Labour and the Tories have turn the UK into a money launderette.
NOT A SWEET SHOP. Most people on here read the comments section rather than the actual article. Quick to judge but slow to understand.
They obviously siphoned money out of the failing business assuming that they will get off scot-free.They will never be loaned money again.
‘proved hugely popular’
Well, that’s simply untrue, isn’t it?
The business (filed under the name OCD VENTURES LTD) has been losing money since it opened its doors.
And, even though it had run up debts which it had no hope of ever repaying, they came to local people and asked them for money.
The problem is people think a hobby shared between friends and family is a business ,sadly it’s not ,I find the £35.000 collected through crowd funding the most vulgar thing as HMRC will swallow that one up ,
Well some of these comments are worse than disgusting, this is nothing more than a witch hunt, surely we have all done something in our lives that has not gone to plan !!!! this is no reflection on a person’s character actually both Charlie and David are extremely nice people who tried to make a business work in such difficult times .
Don’t sound much like nice people. We have all made mistakes but not paying bills, not paying staff, borrowing money they could never repay, begging idiots to give them money they could never repay, and then walking away does not sound like the actions of extremely nice people. Burn the witch!
Tacky looking somewhat understates the joint.
So they lost about a hundred grand plus any money they ever made very fishy, someone was paid a lot of money at some point.