Maison Brillant in liquidation

Richard Bacon of Portland Business and Financial Solutions has confirmed that Maison Brillant was insolvent. There will be a creditors' meeting on Friday 8 September.

When staff at the Gabriel's Wharf branch arrived on Monday 31 July they found that the usual overnight delivery of bread was not inside the shop. Instead they were told to report to an address across the river to receive any wages due.

The French baker's shop opened in March 2005 as a branch of the noted boulangerie in Henley founded a year earlier by Phillippe Brillant. Last spring he opened a counter and café in Harvey Nichols at Knightsbridge, where it is suggested that David and Victoria Beckham have bought bread and cakes.

The windows of Maison Brillant's shop in Henley have been whitewashed and a notice at the bakery in Vanalloys Business Park at Stoke Row announces that Leyland Estate have re-possessed the empty units.

Monsieur Brillant, a Parisian chef who had worked for Prince Khalid Abdullah of Saudi Arabia, says that he did not have a controlling stake in the company and was out of the country when he heard the news.

"This has been at great cost to myself and my family and has left me in an extremely difficult situation" he adds.

The Gabriel's Wharf shop sold a range of popular bread including white rustic Mannedor and Six Cereal loaves. Its outdoor café which attracted regular customers featured as a location for a live television discussion programme.