Geelong West restaurant collapse leaves gift voucher holders out of pocket
Customers of a shuttered Geelong West eatery have been told not to expect refunds on unused gift vouchers, after the venue's operating company collapsed into liquidation days after taking payment.
Pakington St wine bar and restaurant Tulip Restaurant closed abruptly on June 29, with owner Daniel Ford breaking the news via Instagram. ASIC filings later confirmed the closure coincided with operating company Perfectly Natural Hospitality Pty Ltd entering external administration, with Scott Andersen of Worrells appointed liquidator. Ford is listed as the company's director.
Andersen has since written to affected voucher holders confirming there is no pathway to reimbursement.
"Unfortunately, the company is not in a financial position to provide refunds," he wrote. "The business has ceased trading and is now in liquidation and, as a result, is unable to honour any pre-existing arrangements."
Customers left holding vouchers have been directed to lodge a formal proof of debt or seek a charge-back through their card provider.
Among those affected is Geelong West local Ally Lofts, who received a $200 voucher as a gift with her husband only a couple of months before the closure. Lofts described herself as "shocked" by the news and said the voucher was now "worth nothing." She said calls to the restaurant had gone unanswered.
"It is so disappointing," she said. "Obviously you don't want to see a great restaurant like that close, but you also want to know where you stand. They're obviously in a situation that isn't great, but at the end of the day, your integrity is intact if you can follow these things up," she told The Geelong Advertiser.
Belmont's Sam Ryan, who bought a $150 voucher for his Melbourne-based parents after repeated positive visits to the restaurant, said the manner of the closure had changed how he viewed the business, despite eventually being contacted by the liquidator.
"The way the closure was handled did tarnish my views of the restaurant," Ryan said. "I love the food, and that's why we bought the voucher for my parents, because they hadn't been there and we thought it'd be nice to share it with them."
Ryan noted his father, a former solicitor, had advised there was little legal avenue to recover the funds.
Not every customer has been left empty-handed. Ben Freeman said he secured a refund directly through his bank after purchasing a voucher just two days before the closure was made public.
"I feel sad for them, but they shouldn't be taking money for gift vouchers on Saturday, June 27," he wrote online. "Let's hope they have some goodwill."
In his original Instagram announcement, Ford gave little detail on the reasons behind the closure, describing it as "gutting to lose it like this" and encouraging the community to "support your local restaurants."
Both Ford and Andersen have been approached for comment.
Jonathan Jackson, 16th July 2026
