Smokehouse 'strike off' suspended

The update was listed on Thursday January 9 on Companies House website under Lorne Fisheries Limited.

The document about the suspension was being processed, said the website, and would be available online on January 19.

However, last week the website was still flagging up the business’s accounts as "overdue" since October 31 2024.

Last week The Oban Times reported that six smokehouse staff won their claims for unpaid wages after an employment tribunal judge decided in their favour. Smokehouse boss Patrick Campbell-Preston had not communicated with the court so a rule was used that allowed the judge to make a decision based on the material that was available. The judge ordered a total of £71,131.97 be paid. 

The Oban Times first reported on the staff’s desperate plight back in November when they told us they were "going through hell" because their wages had not been paid in months.

The Government-backed pension provider NEST had also sent out emails alerting them to missed PAYE and National Insurance contributions from their employer, and went on to refer the business to The Pensions Regulator because of it.

There are still worries about the missed payments, and legal advice is being sought said one of the affected workers.

Mr Campbell-Preston previously told The Oban Times he would be sending in the overdue accounts having "had a word" with Companies House and that the striking off proposal would then ’disappear’.