First Leisure

In 2004: " First Leisure, Britain's second-biggest nightclub operator, was last night in the hands of receivers after it failed to secure the backing of its key creditors.

"The company was once part of the leisure conglomerate built up by Lord Delfont which was subsequently broken up by Michael Grade, his nephew and the BBC's new chairman.

"It has now been placed into administration and is the highest profile victim of a downturn in the nightclubs business over the past two years.

"Simon Bower and John Whitfield, from RSM Robson Rhodes, have been appointed to try to salvage the company which employs 1,600 people and operates a chain of 28 nightclubs across the country. These include Equinox in Leicester Square in London and the Creation brand of clubs in Brighton, Cardiff, Leeds, Leicester and Stoke."