Jobs lost as luxury wedding venue enters liquidation

More than 90 jobs have been lost after a luxury wedding venue went into liquidation.

Stapleford Park Hotel in Leicestershire ceased trading with immediate effect and cancelled all its bookings on 16 October.

Leonard Curtis was appointed as liquidator of Stapleford Park Limited, it was confirmed on Thursday.

The firm said the hotel company did not own the Grade-I listed property, near Melton Mowbray, and that its future "remains uncertain at this stage".

A total of 92 staff members have been made redundant following the closure of the venue, which hosted celebrities including late US pop star Michael Jackson.

Alex Cadwallader, of Leonard Curtis, who has been appointed as joint liquidator along with Neil Bennett, said: "Our priority was to ensure the most orderly wind-down of trading possible.

"Significant efforts were made to communicate with and relocate the guests that were staying at the hotel, which was at approximately 50% occupancy.

"Leonard Curtis attended the site and worked closely with front of house staff to make this possible, and the wider group also met some essential costs to limit the impact on guests and future bookings.

"However, we fully appreciate that some guests will have been adversely impacted."

The estate features 48 guest rooms and 500 acres of parkland surrounding a Grade-I listed mansion.

The liquidator said that "despite efforts to reach profitability", the company running the hotel "was unable to generate the turnover required".

Guests who were due to hold their wedding reception at the hotel said they were "flabbergasted" after being told their bookings had been cancelled.

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