Landmark Morecambe hotel to remain closed as owners go into administration

One of Morecambe's landmark hotels will remain closed following the collapse of its parent company.
The Strathmore Hotel in Morecambe. Picture: Google Street ViewThe Strathmore Hotel in Morecambe. Picture: Google Street View
The Strathmore Hotel in Morecambe. Picture: Google Street View

The 47-bedroom Strathmore Hotel - currently closed due to the Covid-19 pandemic - is among numerous hotels around the country owned by Specialist Leisure Group, which entered administration on Friday.

The Wigan-based firm, in business for more than 100 years, operated coach tour company Shearings Holidays.

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The Specialist Leisure Group also operated Caledonian Travel and hotel businesses such as Bay Hotels, Coast and Country Hotels and Country Living Hotels.

Financial problems brought on by the coronavirus crisis have been blamed for the collapse.

Around 2,500 jobs have been lost at the company, and 64,000 bookings cancelled.

The Shearings, SLG and Bay Hotels websites all say: "The Specialist Leisure Group entered Administration on 22 May 2020.

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"All tours, cruises, holidays and hotel breaks booked with the Specialist Leisure Group have been cancelled and will not be rescheduled.

"The Specialist Leisure Group operated several businesses that sold holidays and other travel arrangements under the following brand names, which have all ceased to trade, due to the impact of Covid-19."

Trade organisation Abta said the company, which specialised in products for the over-50s, was "significantly impacted" by the coronavirus pandemic.

They said the company had struggled to provide thousands of refunds for cancelled trips.

They added that the vast majority of cancelled bookings were coach package holidays, which are financially protected, and customers with these bookings would receive a full refund.