A PUB worker has won his fight against a company which failed to pay him promised furlough… and then dissolved.

Staff at Idle Hands in Queen’s Road were left furious after being sacked without furlough before the pub reopened with new employees last summer.

The former staff, including Larry Meyler, 41, were told by the company, Yolo London Ltd, that it had “successfully applied” for the government’s job retention scheme.

Idle Hands in Queens Road, Brighton

Idle Hands in Queen's Road, Brighton

However, after opening with new staff, the old workers were then told the company had missed out on the scheme “due to a technicality”.

Mr Meyler took the company to an arbitration service, and then a tribunal, where on November 18 it was ruled the company had to pay him £497.25.

The company did not take money from the government furlough scheme, but were told they owed the money due to the apparent promise that they would do so.

However, Yolo London Ltd, whose sole director is Nathan Lowry, was dissolved on January 26, leaving Mr Meyler without payment.

After three months, Mr Meyler took his story to The Argus. This paper then attempted to contact Yolo London Ltd’s director Nathan Lowry through another company where he previously served as CEO.

Within two hours, the money was paid into Mr Meyler’s account.

Larry Meyler

Larry Meyler

Mr Meyler said: “Obviously, it's good to get the money they owed me, although it just sums it up the that it took a call from the press to make them pay.

“Hopefully, the same result will come to fruition for my colleague.

“Extensive hours of research, fact-gathering and form filling have gone into trying to get justice in this ridiculous and unnecessary situation.

“In what has been an already mentally and financially challenging time, it has left me feeling drained because of the enforced and prolonged stress from having to deal with this company."

A spokesman for Yolo London Ltd said: “It’s been a very difficult position for everyone involved and we are sorry for those that have lost their jobs.

“The company has now closed, but our team is working to make things right.

“When it is financially possible, we will look to restart in Brighton and are committed to creating new jobs.”