London & Edinburgh Swallow Group collapses into administration

London & Edinburgh Swallow Group went into administration this morning after apparently incurring “heavy losses”, Caterer can reveal.

One of Britain’s largest privately-owned hotel and pub companies has called in Ernst & Young to establish if the company can be sold as a going concern or if its portfolio will be split up and sold individually.

The group owns 146 hotels and inns throughout England and Wales group and employs more than 7,000 staff.

Executive chairman Alan Bowes allegedly told staff in an internal e-mail that a recent period of "unprecedented growth" had caused strain on its operations.

It is thought the group may have been struggling to keep up with its rent payments.

Bowes bought Swallow three years ago and told The Publican newspaper that calling in Ernst & Young was an exercise in establishing the best way forward for the company.

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By Emily Manson

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