ADMINISTRATORS who have been appointed to take over a hotel chain have promised all wedding bookings will be honoured at a Basingstoke hotel.

Zolfo Cooper was appointed joint administrators of Hollybourne Hotels, which runs The Red Lion, in London Street, on February 12.

A statement from Zolfo Cooper said the company, which employs 200 staff at five hotels in Hampshire and Surrey, including Alton House and Farnham House, had gone into administration after failing to agree credit terms with its lender.

It added that administration was “the only option to preserve value and to allow the business to continue to trade.”

Zolfo Cooper intends to continue to trade the hotels as usual, and honour all the “healthy number of existing bookings” including weddings and other events.

The Red Lion Hotel, at Top of The Town, is a three-star hotel with 62 en-suite bedrooms. It has a restaurant, cafe-bar and grill and is licensed to hold civil wedding ceremonies. It is also used as the venue for Jan Jack’s Laughter-House comedy night, held each month on a Thursday night.

Nick Cropper, partner at Zolfo Cooper, said: “We believe the hotels are attractive to a range of potential buyers and we will bring the hotels to the market in due course.

“We would also like to thank the staff for their continued support and professionalism during this process.”