£2 million investment vow by rescued Shropshire hotel's new boss

The Shifnal hotel's former owners, Devon-based Heritage Properties, plunged into administration in October, leaving staff fearing for their jobs and couples planning to wed at the hotel with their plans in tatters.

Now it has been taken over by a newly-established group, Bourne Hotels, with Jamie McDonald appointed as hotel director to help re-establish its reputation.

When he arrived, 16 bedrooms were out of action because the outdated heating system had no hot water, while carpets were worn and bare in patches, the 40-year-old said.

"The hotel itself was performing strongly," he added. "Last year, having looked at the figures, was an exceptionally strong year, but the parent company, which had five or six hotels, had cost issues as a whole.

"The hotel was lacking a bit of TLC, from what I can see, and it needed a little bit of investment. In January we put a new boiler in for those 16 rooms, and reopened them – we didn't in December as I wasn't prepared to sell a bedroom without hot water.

"Over the first 12 months we are going to be spending £750,000 to £1 million, and the same again in 2016."

Much of the initial spend will be on carpets and furniture, which Mr McDonald added was a necessary part of the plans for the hotel's future, and relaunching the restaurant with a new menu.

He has also appointed a new general manager, Mike Norton, and brought back ex-employee Sharon Flavell as conference and events manager.

A report by the administrators, BDO, reveals that an offer had been in place for the Park House last March, but "compliance issues" which were revealed during the sale process caused the deal's collapse.

Heritage fell into administration in October, causing huge concern for a number of couples who had booked weddings at the hotel, which is based in two 17th century properties and employs around 90 people.

Now Mr McDonald says he is working on rebuilding the reputation of the four-star hotel.