'˜Business as usual' at Larne hotel placed into administration

The two properties and the former Curran Court Hotel site on Curran Road are owned by Curran Court Hotel Ltd, which went into administration on Tuesday.

The 33-bedroom hotel, situated on the Redlands Road, employs 65 staff.

The family-run business was owned by Crawford Leitch and has been operating in Larne for 40 years, originally opening on the Curran Road in 1975 before moving to its current location.

La Bodega bar on Point Street employs six staff.

Ernst and Young have been appointed as administrators for Curran Court Hotel Ltd.

A spokesperson for Ernst and Young told the Larne Times: “It is business as usual as the administrative receivers review the operations.

“Andrew Dolliver and Luke Charleton were appointed administrative receivers over Curran Court Hotel.”

A spokesperson for the Curran Court Hotel Ltd group said: “The first we knew about it was when the administrators came to the hotel reception to say that they were foreclosing on the building loan.

“We had no warning.

“It was such a shock as this is a good business which has been trading well.

“The staff are our priority but they are all devastated and in shock.

“We hope it will be sold as a going concern for the staff, some of who have worked here since the beginning.

“As far as we are aware payments to staff and suppliers are up to date.”

Chair of Larne Traders’ Forum Allan Dorman said he was “very sorry” that the long-established businesses had been placed in administration.