A Belfast joinery and fit-out firm that supplied high-profile hotels will wind down its workshop after an investor who bought it from administration decides to close operations amid weak demand
The Belfast fit-out sector has lost another local supplier as Pure Fitout prepares to shut its Springbank workshop in the coming weeks. Staff at the west Belfast site have been told the closure will take place in June once current contracts are finished, with roughly 35 positions expected to go.
Management has reassured clients that all active projects will be completed, while stressing that the wider business environment for bespoke joinery and hospitality fit-out has deteriorated sharply.
The company was purchased out of administration in January 2026 by Dublin investor Damien Gaffney, who also acquired sister firm HALT Natural Fire Retardant (NFR).
The two businesses were bought for £1.1 million in a deal that was presented at the time as a rescue move that saved more than 100 jobs. However, after a period of downsizing and repeated cash injections, the investor says persistent losses and falling contract wins have left the operation unsustainable.
Immediate effects and staff briefings
Employees at the Mallusk and Belfast offices were informed of the planned shutdown at short notice. Management confirmed that the spring closure will not be abrupt and that the firm intends to fulfil ongoing contracts before ceasing workshop activity. Sources indicate that a separate Mallusk facility has already been closed and that headcount was reduced in recent weeks as part of a cost-cutting programme. The decision follows a period in which the owner reported repeatedly funding the company from his own resources, describing multiple multi-million-euro injections to keep operations afloat.
How the business grew and who it served
Established in 2015 by west Belfast native Ronan Higham, the company built a reputation for tailored joinery work and fast growth across the island. One of its most significant commercial relationships was with the Dublin-based Press Up Group, a hospitality operator that at its peak ran around 50 hotels, bars and restaurants. That collaboration helped secure high-profile fit-out projects including notable hotels in Dublin, and raised the firm’s profile in the sector.
Client exposure and unpaid invoices
When the original business collapsed and entered administration, administrators reported that there were substantial unpaid invoices from key clients. The insolvency process drew attention to the concentration risk many specialist fit-out suppliers face when they become dependent on a small number of large hospitality accounts. Although the new owner negotiated the acquisition prior to the collapse and pledged to stabilise operations, those historical receivables continued to complicate recovery efforts.
Sector consolidation and corporate upheaval
The wider hospitality landscape has also shifted: Press-Up sold its hotel chain in 2026, and mounting debts resulted in a takeover by London asset manager Cheyne Capital in 2026, executed as a debt-for-equity swap. The group was later rebranded as the Eclective Hospitality Group, with co-founder Paddy McKillen Junior retaining a minority stake. These changes prompted restructuring across the sector and reduced the pipeline of fit-out work that companies like Pure Fitout relied upon.
Investor response and what remains trading
Damien Gaffney has said he tried to slim the business back to a viable core and that he repeatedly injected capital but could no longer justify continued losses. He described his actions as being taken with employees’ and clients’ interests in mind. While the Springbank workshop will close, the owner confirmed the separate HALT NFR operation will continue to trade profitably from its own site at Springbank. HALT NFR was not affected by the decision and will operate independently, maintaining its fire retardant product lines and existing contracts.
Outlook for staff and the regional supply chain
The intended closure underlines fragility in specialist supplier networks that support hotel and restaurant rollouts. For the roughly 35 employees facing redundancy, the move raises immediate concerns about livelihoods and local skills retention. For contractors and clients, the closure may tighten supply capacity in the short term. Observers say the episode illustrates how insolvency, corporate restructures among major clients and a sudden drop in sector demand can combine to end otherwise high-profile local businesses.
Next steps
Management has pledged to complete current work and to communicate with affected staff about redundancy arrangements and support. The remaining HALT NFR business will continue operations, while the future of any remaining assets and potential buyers for parts of the business has not been publicly detailed. The case highlights the risks suppliers face when demand falls and when a small number of large customers experience financial stress.
