29 jobs saved at Billington hotel (From Lancashire Telegraph)

29 jobs saved at Billington hotel

4:50pm Tuesday 10th February 2009

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TWENTY nine jobs have been saved at a hotel in the Ribble Valley.

The Clarion Hotel Blackburn was one of 10 hotels put into administration by the Real Hotel Company on January 21, which has now been taken over by Focus Hotels Management Ltd. Nationally, the deal has saved 500 jobs.

The Clarion Hotel Blackburn, in Whalley Road, Billington, will now revert to its old name, Foxfields Country Hotel & Suites.

Peter Cashman, chief executive of Focus Hotels Management Ltd, said: “We are delighted to have agreed a deal to operate these hotels.

“We have acquired the Clarion Hotel with a view to owning it long-term and we certainly have plans to invest in it so it is better placed in the market place than it is now.

“We want to re-establish it in the local and national arena as a quality four star hotel.

“We will be re-branding the hotel -bringing it back to being the Foxfields - because we believe that that is the right name for it.

“The Ribble Valley is a very attractive area for people to visit and we certainly believe that it can be a success.

“It was a success before and can be again.

“There is a strong opening in the current market for quality mid-market hotels offering value and excellent service.”

Focus Hotels Management was formed by Peter Cashman, Alun Edwards and Tony Mylchreest in July 2007.

Other hotels saved in the takeover are in Stafford, Hull, Altrincham, Wigan, Wolverhampton, Chester, Northampton, Telford and Hatfield. They have 780 beds between them.

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