Restaurant’s sudden closure after running up debts of £70,000

Signs have appeared saying Sante will reopen soon

A restaurateur has closed his Perth business after it ran up debts of nearly £70,000.

Sante, in the city centre, shut down unexpectedly with the loss of around 13 jobs. It is understood it was closed by its manager, who took the reigns after former boss Julien Mouly was jailed last year for repeatedly assaulting a woman.

The High Court in Edinburgh heard the abuse lasted for 21 months.

On one occasion in 2013, the 41-yearold spat at his victim, seized hold of her arm and threw her to the ground.

He also assaulted the same woman with an umbrella.

Mouly, who was released from jail and ordered to complete community service following an appeal, was due to go before Perth and Kinross Council’s licensing board last week.

However, he surrendered his personal licence ahead of the hearing.

Now Mouly and another director of Sante Restaurant (Perth) Ltd have raised a petition at Perth Sheriff Court, asking for the company to be wound up.

According to papers lodged with the court, the company owes nearly £17,000 of VAT and is in debt to suppliers by about £30,000.

Staff are due an estimated £17,500 in unpaid wages.

The company claims it is unable to pay its debts totalling £69,874 and has asked for a provisional liquidator, Richard Gardiner of Thomson Cooper Accountants, to be appointed.

The restaurant had a workforce of eight full-time staff and five part-time, including the two directors.

Mr Gardiner, who has been given control of the company by Sheriff Lindsay Foulis, was unavailable for comment yesterday.

However, there is hope the Sante could be resurrected.

Signs have appeared at the restaurant claiming “under new management” and “opening soon”.

No one at the restaurant, which is not owned by the company directors, could be reached for comment.

A source stressed that Mr Mouley was not responsible for running up debts, but found his company in the red after his release from prison.

Sante is in a prime location, next to the soon-to-be transformed Perth City Hall.

Its sudden closure came as a surprise to customers.

Some said they had booked a table in advance, but turned up to find the lights off and doors locked.

Picture: Angus Findlay. Diners turned up at Sante restaurant in Perth only to find it locked.

Julien Mouly, who was jailed last year for assault, is a director of the restaurant, which closed without warning after running up debts it cannot repay.