Montrachet, Brisbane: Celebrity chef Shannon Kellam’s French restaurant enters administration

A celebrity chef’s catering empire has collapsed after his eighth restaurant went bust in just six weeks.

Administrators were appointed on Friday to take over award-winning chef Shannon Kellam’s French restaurant Montrachet in Brisbane’s Bowen Hills.

At the end of May, Mr Kellam’s hospitality business, BCN Events Group, went into voluntary liquidation, resulting in seven of his venues closing their doors and 90 staff being made redundant.

Mark Holland, Jamie Harris and Anthony Connelly of McGrathNicol have been appointed administrators of Cuisinier Australis Pty Ltd, which traded as Montrachet.

The restaurant remains open and managers urge interested buyers to contact them.

Montrachet first welcomed customers in 2004 and was taken over by Mr Kellam and his wife in 2015.

“It is with a heavy heart that I must inform you that we have taken the very difficult decision to place the company into administration,” he said in a statement.

“We are very grateful for the continued support we have received from our customers, employees and suppliers over the past 20 years.”

It is the eighth location under Mr Kellam’s leadership to be placed under receivership or liquidation since May.

Mr. Kellam’s restaurant has won numerous awards, including the award for the best French restaurant in Australia several times. The restaurant has also won two chef’s hats.

Last month he told the Courier Mail that his company’s insurance had more than doubled to $22,000, and that gas and utility bills had also skyrocketed.

When his company BCN Events Group went bust, his venues Lumiere Culinary Studio in Newstead, Mica Brasserie in Newstead and the popular King Street Bakery in Bowen Hills all closed their doors.

It is reported that 90 staff members from all seven locations have been laid off.

Mr Holland, Mr Harris and Mr Connelly also handled these liquidations.

“We intend to work with our employees, customers and suppliers during this difficult time,” Mr. Holland said in a statement.

‘At this stage, BCN Events appears to be falling victim to the headwinds facing the hospitality industry.

‘In the meantime, we regret to inform you that the Group’s ongoing operations will be disrupted and the well-known Mica sites (Newstead and CBD) and King Street Bakery will remain closed.

‘We are currently conducting an urgent assessment to consider the options available.’

There is still a separate Mica cafe open at Brisbane Airport, but it does not appear to be affected by the closures.

BCN Events Group reportedly suffered a $150,000 loss when flooding left their business without power in February 2022.

Montrachet (pictured interior) will not close and the managers at McGrathNicol are encouraging anyone interested to consider buying it

Mr. Kellam’s other locations, such as Lumiere Culinary Studio, the Kneadery, Mica and King Street Bakery, have all closed – although one Mica still operates out of Brisbane Airport