MP pleads for hotels to come to the rescue

Reporter: Jan Harwood
Date online: 28/08/2008

Rochdale MP Paul Rowen has called for all hotels and suitable function rooms to rally round after hearing the news, exclusively revealed by Rochdale Online, that the Broadfield Hotel has gone into administration.

Rochdale Town Hall has already come to the aid of one couple, who had their wedding scheduled at the Broadfield this Saturday (30 August). Shockingly, Rochdale Online believes that the couple paid a sum to the Broadfield, believed to be in the thousands, just days before the hotel closed yesterday.

The Town Hall have confirmed that they will do all they can to accommodate any disappointed brides, grooms or anyone else who has been affected by this closure.

Mr Rowen said: “I think it is a real shame that the Broadfield Hotel has had to close and my thoughts are with all staff affected. As a regular user of this hotel for a number of years, I hope that it will not be long before this hotel, set in splendid gardens, reopens.

"I have been in contact with our Town Hall and they have confirmed that they will do all they can to help if they have the rooms available. I hope that all our other hotels look at helping out people whose big occasions have been put in jeopardy by this bad news.

"This seems to me to be a one off as I know many of our other hotels are thriving."

Those affected by this closure are being asked to contact Consumer Direct, part of the Office of Fair Trading, on 0845 404 0506 to speak to them about their rights regarding the return of deposits or any other financial loss incurred.

Dorothy Johnstone, the Town Hall Booking Manager can be contacted on 01706 924773.

Rochdale Online has received phone calls from hotels as far afield as Denshaw offering their services to disappointed couples.

Meanwhile Rochdale's Tourism Officer Tim Nuttall has recommended the award winning Moss Lodge Hotel off Kingsway. He said: "I have spoken to the Moss Lodge and they have said they will do all that they can to accommodate people at short notice and I would also advise people to think about the Town Hall because they have already managed to fit one wedding in this Saturday that was scheduled for the Broadfield."

Lance De Block, from Clough Manor Hotel in Denshaw, said: "We've had a number of phone calls from Broadfield customers already and we will do everything we can to help them. We are a new hotel so we're also looking for new staff. I would appeal to any of the Broadfield staff to get in touch with us."