Doubts have been raised about whether the Savoy will re-open this year following a £100m refurbishment, after the hotel’s owner admitted it wasn’t taking any event bookings for 2009.

The re-opening date has already slipped from May to the autumn and Fairmont Hotels says it is now planning a “phased autumn/winter 2009 re-opening” for the property.

But event organisers that have booked the hotel ballroom for later this year have now been told the venue will not be ready.

A spokesman for Fairmont Hotels said: “We are still on target for a phased autumn/winter 2009 re-opening of the hotel and public areas.

“However, with a project of this magnitude and scope, and mindful of the sensitivity of our relationships with our long-term loyal client base - particularly with the Lancaster Ballroom - we have decided not to accept bookings for events this year in case, for any unexpected reason, a particular event room's re-opening was delayed.”

The delays – which are believed to have been caused by the discovery of higher than anticipated levels of asbestos – could lead to legal action against the contractors involved, according to experts.

“Hotel refurbishments are notoriously difficult - this one seems to be no different,” a source told Caterersearch sister website ContractJournal.com.

“They have a habit of over-running and that usually leads to legal action because the hotel is losing out on revenue every day it is closed.”

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By Daniel Thomas

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