Future of Ilkley hotel unclear

9:00am Friday 15th August 2008

THE future of Ilkley's Crescent Hotel is unclear after the brewer that owns the Brook Street hotel went into administration.

The move followed the breakdown of rescue talks between the Liverpool-based Cains Beer Company and the firm's bankers.

Readers contacted the Gazette this week asking what will happen to the hotel, which overlooks the junction of Brook Street and the main A65 Leeds Road.

Administrator PriceWater-houseCoopers, has pledged to continue running both the brewery and pub chain business with the intention of selling the business.

In an official statement, the administrator said: "It is currently our intention to continue to trade both the brewery and pub chain businesses and we will seek to achieve going concern sales over the coming weeks and months. We have already received some early indications of interest and we would also invite any parties interested in acquiring either the brewery or pub chain businesses to contact us as soon as possible."

A spokesman told the Gazette yesterday that the current aim is to sell the business as a whole, but could not rule out parts of the business being split up and sold to different firms.

PriceWaterhouseCoopers is busy working through the expressions of interest already received.

The Crescent Hotel refused to comment.

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