Shendish Manor goes into administration

Country house hotel Shendish Manor in Hemel Hempstead has become latest hotel to be placed into administration.

The 70-bedroom hotel was refurbished in 2007, adding a new hotel wing with 52 rooms, but it has been hit by falling demand.

David Crawshaw, joint administrator and partner at KPMG, which is handling the process, said: "The business has experienced a difficult trading period due to the current economic climate and the current structure of the company is no longer sustainable.

"We are currently continuing to trade the business as normal whilst we market the business and assets for sale. It is anticipated that all deposits for bookings will be honoured by a new purchaser."

Paul Barrasford, director at property agent Savills, which has been instructed to offer the hotel to the market, said although economic conditions remained difficult it had seen a marked increase in hotels for sale in recent months.

"Given the strong location, scale and business potential offer at Shendish Manor we're anticipating significant interest in this opportunity," Barrasford said.

KPMG has also been appointed joint administrator of the four-star Portland Spa and Southwell Estates at Southwell Park in Portland, Dorset.

However, Southwell Business Park Limited, parent company of the hotel, is not in administration.

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By Gemma Sharkey

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