Von Essen administration extended by six months
The administration of Von Essen Hotels has been extended by six months to allow time to dispose of the group's two as-yet-unsold hotels.
Permission was granted to Alan Bloom, Angela Swarbrick and Christopher Marsden of Ernst & Young by the High Court of Justice to extend the administration period to 18 October. The extension was granted as the first anniversary of the date Von Essen went into administration - 20 April 2011 - with debts of nearly £300m approaches.
The group's 27 hotels, together with a Napoleonic fort on Thorn Island, off the coast of Pembrokeshire, have all been sold, except for the 24-bedroom Sharrow Bay in Cumbria and the 22-bedroom Ston Easton Park in Somerset.
Christie & Co is marketing both properties at £5m each. Despite Sharrow's Bay standing as one of the UK's first country house hotels, interested buyers have been deterred by the fact that it has only three years remaining on a 30-year-long lease. Ston Easton Park, meanwhile, is a freehold property.
Von Essen head office to close as chief executive finally departs >>
Royal Crescent in Bath is latest Von Essen hotel to be sold >>
Cliveden tops the price tag on Von Essen hotels >>
By Janet Harmer
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