The Mad Ltd. group has shut The Blue Pig, Walrus, Tusk, Rosylee and three Hula sites.
According to the Manchester Evening News, the venues were closed by Mad Ltd on Tuesday night, resulting in the loss of 125 jobs.
Jonathan Hawkins, a director of the group, confirmed to the paper that the 15-year old business had gone into liquidation.
Sascha Lord, the city’s night czar, mooted the liquidation on Twitter before it was announced.
“Sadly, a large operator, with many bars in the Northern Quarter has just closed its doors and gone into liquidation,” he tweeted.
“Some great bars amongst the group. I expect there will be a quick rescue package. Large job losses, I hope the operator deals with them correctly.”
Mad Ltd opened Lazy Lizard in The Printworks in December 2018, but it closed for refurbishment after just 10 months, and was never re-opened.
The Mad Ltd. group was established in 2004 by Hawkins and his business partner Mark Andrew.
Manchester venues have suffered in the recent financial climate. In October, Living Ventures put its Manchester House and Artisan restaurants in the city into administration. The company announced that administrators Du & Phelps had been appointed following a period of “difficult trading”.