Hotel worker 'gutted' after venue's closure

Tony Johnson worked as a fitness instructor at the hotel's health club for eight years

A former hotel worker said he was left "gutted" after the venue closed fewer than three weeks before Christmas.

The Brandon Hall Hotel and Spa, near Coventry, shut its doors on 9 December after staff said the business went into administration.

Tony Johnson, who worked as a fitness instructor at the hotel's health club for eight years, described it as a huge loss to the area and said he hoped it would be rescued.

The BBC has approached the current owners and the administrators for a comment on the closure.

Speaking to BBC CWR, Mr Johnson said he was hugely disappointed to see dozens of his colleagues lose their jobs in the run-up to Christmas.

He said some of them have managed to find warehouse work but others were "living on the good faith of their family and friends".

"Hopefully, someone will come in and buy this hotel because, as far as I'm concerned, it's fantastic and a bit of a goldmine if someone wants to invest in it," he added.

People who worked at the hotel said administrators showed up at about lunchtime on 9 December before asking all the guests and staff to leave by the end of the working day.

Concrete blockades have since been placed on both roads leading to the property and the site was being monitored by private security.

A paper notice, taped to the front door, confirmed the closure on 9 December as well as the request for staff and guests to leave the premises by the end of that day.

"We apologise for any inconvenience and please be kind to staff as it has nothing to do with any of them," the notice read.