Norwich Area Pubs

National Chains

Bay Restaurant Group

1. Robert Tchenguiz and His Takeovers.

Described as the colourful Iranian-born entrepreneur,
Mr. T - also known by a company code R20 - bought the
Laurel Pub Co. (Hogshead chain) in November 2004.

In the following year he added the Slug & Lettuce chain
and Yates Wine Lodges [1]

In April 2007 he absorbed the La Tasca chain,
which seems to have included the Ha Ha bars.

The Bay Restaurant Group was the end result of
the various, complicated takeovers.

[1] This helps to explain the replacement of Yates
in Queen Street in 2008.

2. The Credit Crunch.

This caught up with Robert Tchenguiz, somewhat late,
in 2009; and all his assets were held by the banks who
had put up the money for his acquisitions.

One (Iceland) bank had already gone bust
in October 2008.

They, and a partner German Bank, decided to flog-off
Bay Restaurant Group in May 2010, to try to recoup
their own losses.

3. The New Bidders.

The hope of selling all of Bay to one bidder
seems to have failed.

Evidence in early-2011 is that La Tasca Restaurants
Ltd. have succeeded in regaining control of that chain.

Mitchells and Butlers evidently took over the
Ha Ha chain - see the re-branding to All Bar One.

Even Slug & Lettuce Co. Ltd. seems to be
back in business by 2011.
This may well include the former Yates chain.

Tragus Ltd. (Bella Italia and Café Rouge)
were expected to make inroads into the Bay
portfolio, but - once again - seem to have lost out.

Such is the fallout from the short-lived Bay empire,
in the Summer months of 2010.

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