A BOLTON-BASED company behind a popular city centre restaurant is expected to call in administrators.

Passepartout Ltd, the owners of the all-you-can-eat Red Hot World Buffet in Deansgate, Manchester city centre, has applied to be placed into administration.

The firm, which is based in St Georges Road, Bolton, according to Companies House, is in financial trouble, with minutes of a board meeting revealing it is unable to pay off debts.

The restaurant will continue to trade as normal as talks continue.

FRP Advisory, a Manchester-based insolvency firm, is expected to be named as the administrator.

The firm also owns Red Hot World Buffet restaurants in Cardiff, Leeds, Leicester and Liverpool.

The owners of Passepartout Ltd are due in court next month after pleading guilty to seven breaches of food hygiene at its Liverpool One restaurant, after mice were found in the kitchens last year.

A court hearing last month added five new health and safety charges, which date from March 18 and again relate to mice infestation and breaches of food hygiene.

No pleas have been entered on the latest charges.

A spokesman for FRP Advisory said: “Buffet Restaurants Ltd, the group holding company of the Red Hot World Buffet business (Red Hotel World Buffet) confirms that it has appointed business advisors at FRP Advisory to its subsidiaries to assist the group in appraising its options for its next stage of development.

“A number of offers for sites have been received from trade competitors and these are currently being considered by FRP Advisory and the group.

“The group continues to trade as normal with the support of its loyal employees across the Red Hot World Buffet operations.

“The Group has an attractive portfolio of A3 restaurant sites in Manchester, Leeds, Liverpool, Leicester and Cardiff and the group looks forward to working with FRP Advisory.”