The Singapore-based Fragrance Group has announced that The Lyndene Hotel and St. Chad’s Hotel, two landmark hotels on Blackpool’s Promenade, are to reopen. These prominent neighbouring seafront hotels were abruptly and unexpectedly shut with staff left unpaid on 3rd February by their operating firm, Bespoke Hotels Group. At the time it was thought that the hotel doors would be permanently closed. However, after intense negotiations, it has been announced that the two hotels will reopen and will be in the hands of hospitality management company RBH, which has taken over operations with immediate effect.
Paul and Claire Swift, the previous general managers of the 141-bedroom Lyndene (pictured) and 90-bedroom St Chad’s in Blackpool have already been reappointed by the new company and it is anticipated that, over the coming weeks, more staff who were made redundant will also be offered employment with RBH.
The overjoyed husband and wife management team, Paul and Claire said, ‘We are delighted that both the Lyndene and St Chad’s hotels will be reopening their doors very soon. It has been such a distressing few weeks for our teams, as well as our loyal guests. These two fantastic and very popular hotels are such key landmarks.’
Divisional director for RBH Steven Foster said, ‘We have moved swiftly to re-employ the general managers to ensure the hotels are ready to reopen as soon as we’re allowed to do so. Exactly when we open will be dependent on the government’s plans for lifting restrictions on the hospitality and leisure sector but we are optimistic that as we move towards summer, and with the roll-out of the vaccine programme, we can look forward to a very busy season in Blackpool.’
The Fragrance Group’s UK representative Martin Rogers said: ‘Since discovering that Bespoke Hotels had effectively closed four of our hotels by making all staff redundant without warning on February 3rd, we have had an intense fortnight of discussions, culminating in an agreement with RBH. We already have an established working relationship with RBH who operate one of our flagship hotels, The Crown in Harrogate, and we have every confidence that both the Lyndene Hotel and St. Chad’s Hotel will thrive under their professional management.’
