Popular Melbourne venues The Wolf Windsor and Norman hit financial strife

The owner of popular night spot The Wolf Windsor and South Yarra cafe Norman is desperately trying to negotiate a deal with the taxman over a $3.2m debt after both venues collapsed into administration.

The owner of two popular inner city hospitality venues is desperately trying to negotiate a deal with the taxman over a $3.2m debt. Picture: Instagram

The owner of two popular inner-city hospitality venues is desperately trying to negotiate a deal with the taxman over a $3.2m debt, leaving more than 150 jobs at risk.

Companies housing popular Windsor night spot, The Wolf Windsor, and South Yarra cafe, Norman, have collapsed into administration, documents filed with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission show.

The Wolf is a pub located on Chapel St, known for its late nights, while Norman, situated on Toorak Rd, advertises itself as a “sleek and modern cafe” serving breakfast and lunch.

Both venues are continuing to trade.

The Wolf is housed in corporate vehicle James Hospitality Investments while Norman trades in a company called AMPS Enterprises.

Hamilton Murphy Advisory’s Stephen Dixon has been appointed administrator to both companies.

Norman, situated on Toorak Rd in South Yarra, advertises itself as a “sleek and modern cafe”.

The Wolf is a pub located on Chapel St, known for its late nights. Picture: Instagram

The Australian Taxation Office is listed as being owed $3,284,356, minutes from a combined creditor meeting held this month reveal.

Prahran accounting firm Highview Accounting and Financial is also listed as a creditor owed $22,242.

The director of both businesses, Andrew Simmonds, plans to put forward a deal to creditors, known as a Deed of Company Arrangement (DOCA).

The Herald Sun has been told no staff will be impacted and the businesses expect to reach a resolution with all parties within the next fortnight.

But Mr Dixon’s colleague Ahmed Bise, who stepped in to lead the first creditor’s meeting, said the tax office would have a “significant say” over whether any settlement deal will be accepted.

“The chairperson noted that any DOCA proposal will have to be supported by a cashflow forecast that illustrates that the companies’ businesses can trade by generating surplus operating cash flow after the payment of operating expenses,” the minutes read.

Andrew Kovacevic, who attended the meeting on behalf of the tax office, told the administrators that James Hospitality Investments had 75 employees while AMPS Enterprises had 66 workers.

The Wolf is housed in a corporate vehicle called James Hospitality Investments. Picture: Instagram

The Australian Taxation Office is listed as being owed more than $3.2m.

Mr Kovacevic said James Hospitality Investments’ debt to the tax office had been accruing since February 2022, while unpaid debts from AMPS Enterprises could be traced back as far as May 2020.

“The chairperson confirmed the dates provided by Mr Kovacevic for the purposes of the minutes of the meeting adding that this information was relevant to the administrator’s investigations,” the document read.

Mr Bise said historically AMPS Enterprises had received financial support from James Hospitality Investments to meet its trading liabilities, and noted there were a number of related party loans.

He said Mr Simmonds had other business interests, which had also drawn funds from the companies.

Mr Simmonds is also listed as the director of whipped shower foam and body moisturiser brand Sundae Body.

In the coming weeks creditors will receive Mr Dixon’s report on the administration and vote on whether to accept a deal put forward by Mr Simmonds or place the companies into liquidation.

In the meantime Mr Dixon will continue to trade the businesses in order to “preserve (their) value”, Mr Bise said.

“The chairperson noted that investigations will be conducted to determine the reasons for the appointment of an administrator to the companies,” the minutes read.