A group of city centre bars which appeared under threat of closure two months ago look set for a new chapter after securing investment.
Town and Country Inns, which operates Mechu, Fleet Street Kitchen and Après in Summer Row, said in May it had suffered a £400,000 drop in revenue as a result of roadworks connected to the £500 million 'Paradise' project.
Bosses at the firm have now announced plans to open one of the city's first private members' clubs and launch new venues and unveiled a new-look board of directors which has seen the founder leave the group.
The company said it had secured a new injection of capital from an unnamed investor which would enable it to launch a roll-out of the Fleet Street Kitchen brand at new venues in the West Midlands, Manchester and London.
It is also aiming to launch an entirely new brand for Birmingham in association with Après which also has sister venues in Solihull, Lichfield, Mere Green and Cheltenham.
There are plans to convert the basement area of Fleet Street Kitchen into a private club for corporate and individual members only which would have a 24-hour concierge and be aimed at the city's corporate market, ironically expected to grow on the back of developments such as Paradise and Arena Central.
Town and Country Inns is also entering into a joint venture with Edgbaston-based All in All Events, which specialises in organising corporate functions, dinners and balls, and plans include "mobile" versions of Mechu and Fleet Street Kitchen catering.
Finally, the company says it wants to launch a new events programme at nightclub Mechu.
Founder and managing director Keith Williams is retiring, to be replaced by incumbent operations director Mark Jones, while three new directors have been appointed - Benjamin Smith, Matthew Boyden and Martin Brown.
A start date for work on the renovation of the bars is yet to be announced and the company would not confirm the level of investment.
Mr Jones told the Post : "We think Fleet Street Kitchen is the jewel in our crown and we're looking at rolling out six new venues over the next three years.
"The private members' bar has real potential given that there isn't one open yet in Birmingham although some are planned elsewhere in the city.
"The basement area is a good space which we feel is ideal for a private members' club. The city is changing and there is a lot more going on - Birmingham is now ready for something like this."
In January, work started in earnest on the massive Paradise project which will eventually comprise a hotel, office buildings, new public space and a re-routed traffic flow around Paradise Circus Queensway island.
The first phase entails demolition of Central Library and major roadworks in the areas around Sand Pits, Summer Row and Broad Street which are expected to last until summer 2016.
In February, Town and Country Inns said it was having to postpone a planned £2 million facelift amid fears 100 jobs could be put at risk and in May the company announced it was "weeks away from administration" after enduring losses of £400,000 in four months.
Mr Jones added: "It's been horrendous and we're not the only business which has been affected but we have three sites in Summer Row alone so have been impacted on three different venues.
"This announcement is welcome news following all the recent negative headlines."
Pictures: Bars and restaurants heading to Birmingham in 2015
