Former employees and guests at Airth Castle Hotel claim they have been left in the dark after the operating company behind the venue went into liquidation this week.
In a statement published on Tuesday, the directors of Airth Castle Hotel Limited said they were entering into voluntary liquidation as a result of “unmanageable debts” blamed on pressures of the Covid pandemic and the energy crisis.
The move put 26 full-time staff as well as a number of part-time staff out of a job.
One of those staff who worked in the hotel’s restaurant until the news broke, has spoken to the Observer about the sudden nature of the announcement.
The staff member, who wishes to remain anonymous, said: “I did my last shift on Sunday and there was no indication at all that anything like this was going to happen.
“I was due back on shift on Wednesday but on Tuesday morning, we got an email sent out to us saying that all shifts had now been cancelled and that no one was to turn up for their rota shifts.
“Nobody has been in touch with me beyond that email and I’ve not had any notifications at all about the whole situation.
“When I saw the email, I phoned up one of the managers who I knew well and she said she knew nothing about it and would go up to the castle. She phoned me back and said all of the managers had been pulled in and told at that point.
“There have been a lot of problems for a long time at the castle but it’s just a case of trying to move on. I’ve been searching for new jobs yesterday and today so that’s the next step for me.
“I still haven’t been told anything officially by anyone, just that they would be in touch soon which they haven’t been.”
Alongside the staff looking to pick up the pieces after the announcement, many couples have also been left scrambling to find alternative spots for their weddings.
Local venues such as Hotel Colessio and the Golden Lion Hotel have been among the spots offering their help on social media to affected couples.
One such couple are Stirling-based Natalie Dick and Marc Joseph, who were due to get hitched at Airth Castle in August.
After failing to get confirmation of the closure over the phone, Marc drove to the venue and had the news confirmed by their wedding coordinator.
The pair have paid a £500 deposit to the hotel, but also face being left out of pocket from the thousands paid out to other vendors.
Marc said: “We needed to know what was happening so we drove over to ask. We met our wedding controller, and he did look visibly upset at the situation.
“I asked about getting our deposit back but he said I would need to wait until I was contacted by the liquidators.
“He told me they are hoping to offer their sister venue the Glenbervie Hotel as an alternative but we are really nervous to put our trust in them again.
“I asked to speak with one of the managers who I believe was upstairs but they didn’t appear.”
Natalie added: “We’re absolutely gutted. It is so much stress to try to find a new venue within five months. We don’t trust the company anymore.
“It was the perfect venue for what we wanted.
“There is no other venue quite like it. We’re just devastated.”
In their statement, the directors of Airth Castle Hotel Limited clarified the owners of the hotel property itself, Airth Castle Limited, would not be selling the hotel as a result of the insolvency.
However, documents submitted online have revealed that both Airth Castle Limited and the now-liquidated Airth Castle Hotel Limited have the same directors – Steven McLeod and Filippo Colombetti.
The duo are also listed as the only two active directors in a third firm linked to the castle – Airth Castle Estate Limited.
Land registry documents also show the hotel was purchased by Airth Castle Limited for £4.5million in 2005, with the security for the purchase originating in Italy.
The property was leased to the now liquidated Airth Castle Hotel Limited – with the lease last extended in 2015.
A spokesperson for Airth Castle Hotel Limited said: “The coronavirus pandemic had a major financial impact on the operating company, as the hotel was forced to close for an extended period.
“Then, as the energy crisis unfolded and supplier costs increased, the company’s level of debt reached unmanageable levels and we have taken the reluctant decision to place the company into voluntary liquidation.
“Regretfully, around 26 full-time staff, together with a number of part-time staff, will be made
redundant.”
