Liquidators attempt to reimburse staff and customers owed money by Scalford Hall Hotel

Scalford Hotel Limited, which operated as hoteliers from the hotel, near Melton, entered into voluntary liquidation on Tuesday.

The company began trading in January following the demise of the previous operator, Scalford Hall Hotel Limited, which went into administration.

The property owners, with the consent of the administrators, had granted the company rights of occupation to enable them to recruit staff and reopen the hotel.

But the hotel closed again and ceased trading on August 27, with 19 employees being made redundant.

Nicola Layland, who was one of the liquidators with Carl Faulds, on behalf of Portland, told the Melton Times: “Portland are working with the employees to help them claim monies owed to them from the Redundancy Payments Office.

“We have also been contacted by customers who have paid deposits for cancelled events and are dealing with their claims within the liquidation.”

The decision to close on the latest occasion, according to the liquidators, was taken because of ‘significant cash flow difficulties’.

A Portlands spokesperson said: “The director of the company attributes the failure of the company to a number of factors, including lower than expected levels of bookings and the loss of revenues from conference and room hire when a major business customer announced it was moving out of the area.

“The company also found it difficult to recruit and retain staff, which impacted service levels which, in turn, impacted on overall performance.

“Faced with significant cash flow difficulties, the director made a decision to cease trading on August 27.

“This regrettably, but inevitably, resulted in a number of cancelled future bookings for accommodation and conferences.

“The closure also resulted in 19 staff being made redundant.”

Creditors or customers who consider they have a claim for money owed by Scalford Hall Hotel, and who have not yet contacted Portland, can do so by emailing [email protected] with the details.

We reported recently that the 81-bed hotel is set to reopen again shortly under new owners after a recruitment day was held on September 23, in an attempt to fill vacancies for bar, waiting and kitchen staff, supervisors, head and sous chefs, plus receptionists.

Portland said the future of the hotel site would be determined by the owner of the property.

Ms Nayland added: “There has been some speculation that the hotel will be reopened soon by a new operator and although we are aware of this we have no role in any negotiations or decisions that may be made.”