| Newbury’s Slug & Lettuce pub closed at the weekend, after the pub company running the Northbrook Street bar went into administration. SFI Group went insolvent in June, but 98 of its 150 bars were snapped up by Hogshead chain Laurel Pub Company. However, the Newbury Slug is among 52 currently on the market with leisure agent David Coffer Lyons. SFI bought the former Café Parisa chain in 2002.
The Slug and Lettuce was one of the earliest concept bars to expand rapidly in prominent high street locations across Britain. But its shares were suspended in 2002 after accounting problems, including a £20-million gap between its assets and liabilities, were uncovered.
However, there is good news for the town’s drinkers with two more new bars coming in the next few months. New owners are refitting the former Bar Cuba in Saddler’s Walk, Broadway, which closed last year. And Venom nightclub owner David Quaintance is hoping to open a new bar in Wharf Street. However, work has stopped at the moment following planning difficulties with a road closure request to enable concrete to be piped onto the site. The matter will be discussed at a planning meeting on October 4th. | 
