Poor record keeping lands Edinburgh nightclub boss with 6-year ban

Brian Chalmers (53), from Edinburgh, was the sole director of Scene Live Limited.

The company was incorporated in 2014 and operated the Citrus Club in Grindlay Street, Edinburgh.

However, only three years later Scene Live was ordered into compulsory liquidation in August 2017 after it failed to pay tax.

The court-ordered closure triggered an Insolvency Service investigation, where investigators found that while Scene Live was operating, Brian Chalmers had not been diligent when it came to record keeping.

He failed to ensure the company maintained adequate accounting records, did not ensure Scene Live filed accounts at Companies House and Brian Chalmers also failed to deliver records to the liquidator.

The investigation also uncovered that Scene Live made payments to a third party worth just over £180,000, with Brian Chalmers unable to provide an adequate explanation or accounting records to demonstrate what they were for.

On 18 October 2018, the Secretary of State accepted a disqualification undertaking from Brian Chalmers after he accepted his failure to maintain and/or preserve adequate company accounting records.

Effective from 8 November 2018, Brian Chalmers is now banned for six years from directly or indirectly becoming involved, without the permission of the court, in the promotion, formation or management of a company.

Rob Clarke, chief investigator insolvent investigations at the Insolvency Service, said: “Companies are under a legal duty to account for their income and expenditure and fulfilling that duty is a key component of the role of a director.

“There is no place in the corporate arena for those who neglect their responsibilities in this area, a fact which is reflected in Brian Chalmers’ lengthy ban.”