She added: “It will be a peaceful protest and we will not be blocking people from freely entering the venue. People don’t think in terms of how that money can be spent.” She said: “People say it’s only £100,000 but if every business in the UK acted like this we would be bankrupt. She said the money owed by The Social Bar and Eatery in unpaid tax could have paid for two heart transplants or 125 cataracts operations. But since then it has morphed into a much larger campaign around ex-colleagues not being paid.” Ms Hillson said: “When I started this event (the protest) it was solely because of the missing taxpayer money.

It has also emerged that Ame Social Ltd is no longer trading but Mr Abernethie, a director, is now on the board at Electron Digital Ltd, also in Plymouth. The Social Bar and Eatery Ltd was run by directors Ash and Amy Abernethie, who are now directors of After Hours SW Ltd which is running the new nightspot in the same building in West Street, Liskeard, which housed The Social. These are businesses established after the failure of another firm, often by the same directors, and take on its assets but escape paying its debts. Some are also protesting for a change in the law to prevent “phoenix” companies being set up. Workers from all three businesses are expected to be at the protest. It has also emerged that workers at a linked business, Plymouth marketing company Ame Social Ltd, have also won payouts at employment tribunals. It has emerged that The Social Bar and Eatery Ltd has been ordered to pay thousands of pounds to workers who took it to tribunals. She said that since organising the protest she has been contacted by former workers claiming they are owed cash. She said the cash could have gone to the NHS and pay for vital surgery.

The protest was arranged by Kayte Hillson, who did not work for the business but was incensed when she learned the bust company will only pay a fraction of the £100,000 it owes HM Revenue and Customs for unpaid taxes. The company ran The Social Cocktail Bar and Eatery venues in Plymouth and Liskeard, both of which are now shut. The group was set up after Plymouth’s The Social Bar and Eatery Ltd went into voluntary liquidation with assets of just £2,400 but with creditors predicted to be short of £345,000. A “campaign for justice” group has been set up on Facebook and plans a peaceful demonstration outside the After Hours nightclub in Liskeard this evening, May 19. A protest is being organised after a company closed bars in Plymouth and Liskeard leaving debts of £345,000 and workers unpaid.

Fish Out of Water by Amy Lane