Shropshire Star

Concerns raised for Ludlow economy after Feathers Hotel closure

Concerns have been raised about the future of Ludlow's economy after a world-renowned hotel at the centre of a Legionnaire’s disease outbreak closed down.

Published
The Feathers in Ludlow

The Feathers cited ‘on-going trading difficulties’ as a result of last year's outbreak when it closed this week.

The closure comes after the majority of jobs were shed when the hotel was placed in administration.

Elaine Brown, 69, died on August 26 after suffering a stroke as a result of contracting the disease, which was linked to bacteria in the plumbing at the hotel.

Another guest contracted the disease and was diagnosed in April 2017 but has since recovered.

The hotel was closed in September after Mrs Brown’s death and reopened in November following two months of remedial work. It went into administration on August 2 last year.

In May, parts of the hotel were again closed after elevated levels of Legionella bacteria were found.

Ludlow mayor Tim Gill said the town had already seen a drop in footfall since news about The Feathers emerged, and said he hoped a buyer would reopen it as a hotel again.

“My personal view is it’s a tragedy that it has closed, particularly the impact on the tourism of the town,” he said.

“Ludlow lacks tourist beds, it lost a lot when The Angel closed years ago.

“It’s important for the economy of the town The Feathers remains a hotel as so many businesses depend on it.”

Councillor Gill was told by a restaurant owner that the closure would impact “heavily” on their restaurant.

He said: “I was out on Tuesday night having a meal in a restaurant and they said the closure of The Feathers would impact heavily on them.

Also, the market traders will certainly be hit. Now we’re not getting the footfall from the coach parties which used to stay there.

“It would be an absolute disaster if The Feathers did not re-emerge as a hotel.

"The thought of it becoming housing or expensive apartments would be another nail in the economy of our town.

“It’s important for Ludlow to have a first class hotel in the town centre. I would like to see it bought either by an individual or a company and run as a hotel.

"The Feathers is known world-wide as a hotel, and it is essential for the wellbeing of Ludlow it remains as a hotel for many many years.”

The Feathers was put up for sale in January for more than £2.6 million.

Joint administrators Raj Mittal and Steve Stokes, partners am FRP Advisory LLP, are now looking for a buyer for the hotel.

Tim Simmons, of Lambert Smith Hampton, said there has already been interest in taking over the hotel.

Ludlow Chamber of Trade and Commerce described the closure as “incredibly sad”.

Secretary Jodie Macauley said: "The Feathers Hotel is a Ludlow landmark, and to have the doors closed on our town centre hotel is incredibly sad.

"We had hoped the administrators would work with the hotel team to keep the business trading.

"We hope that a buyer can be found quickly and the doors of this wonderful historic building can be re-opened to the public once again."

A formal investigation was opened after the Legionnaire's disease outbreak was uncovered last year.

A Shropshire Council spokesman said: “The investigation under the Health and Safety at Work Act is still ongoing.”