Blackpool Promenade hotels – including one which starred in Peter Kay’s Phoenix Nights – set to reopen after sudden closures

Owners the Fragrance Group announced the Lyndene and St Chad’s hotels, which were shut suddenly with staff left unpaid on February 3 by operating firm Bespoke Hotels Group, will now be run by hotel management company RBH, which has taken over operations with immediate effect.

Fragrance said the previous general managers of the Blackpool hotels, plus The Townhouse in Manchester and the Duke of Cornwall in Plymouth, which were also closed at the time, have already been re-appointed.

Over the coming weeks, a number of other staff made redundant will also be offered employment soon as hotels are permitted to reopen when lockdown restrictions are lifted, it added.

Bespoke Hotels Group blamed the coronavirus lockdowns for cash woes which meant it had to make the individual companies running the four hotels insolvent.

The Lyndene and St Chad’s are next door to each other on the Prom and are managed by husband and wife Paul and Claire Swift.

They said: “We are delighted that 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 for Blackpool and its tourism trade. We know our community and guests have been so shocked to see them closed. Both have shown us so much support and I’m sure they will all be thrilled to see the two hotels back open as soon as we are able to do so.”

The Lyndene is well known for starring as the Le Ponderosa in the second series of Peter Kay’s TV hit comedy Phoenix Nights.

Paul added: “It’s fantastic news for Blackpool as the Lyndene isn’t just a hotel; over the years it has given so many people such amazing memories. Everyone becomes part of our wider family.”

The Fragrance Group’s UK rep 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 the four Fragrance hotels will thrive under their professional management.”

Steven Foster from RBH said: “We have moved swiftly to re-employ the general managers to ensure the hotels are ready to re-open...”

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