‘Interested parties’ in acquiring a Grade II-listed seafront hotel overlooking Tenby’s North Beach have been advised to contact the Joint Administrators after the hotel ceased trading in recent weeks, following the impact of Covid-19.

The 40-bedroomed Fourcroft Hotel situated along The Croft, was was one of several properties acquired by Northern Powerhouse Developments (NPD) back in 2017, after it was purchased from the family that had owned the Georgian-era premises for over 70 years.

However, when NPD boss Gavin Woodhouse lost control of three of his companies last summer after a judge ruled that his business model appeared to be “thoroughly dishonest” following the publication of an undercover investigation, following a high court hearing, any powers that Mr. Woodhouse possessed as a director were immediately removed and administrators from the insolvency firm Duff & Phelps took over the running of the companies until a full hearing.

After continuing to run the Tenby hotel up until lockdown hit in March, staff members at the Fourcroft were informed in recent weeks by administrators Duff and Phelps that the hotel would not be re-opening and were subsequently made redundant.

At the time of the purchase in January 2017, Mr. Woodhouse had outlined his plans for expansion to complement his company’s existing hotels up and down the coastline of the UK, stating that the Fourcroft Hotel would be the sister hotel to the Llandudno Bay Hotel and Spa and part of the group’s premier ‘whisper hotels’ collection.

Plans to purchase the neighbouring Croft House Apartments which forms part of the Georgian terrace, constructed in 1830, were also in the pipeline.

Rumours surfacing that the Fishguard Bay Hotel which has also lain empty since the start of the pandemic, is going to be used as a bail hostel were denied by both Pembrokeshire County Council and administrators Duff and Phelps this week.

At the time of the sale of the Fourcroft Hotel for an ‘undisclosed sum’ back in January of 2017, Colliers International Hotels director Peter Brunt said the Tenby hotel was one of the ‘outstanding properties’ in the area.

“With much of the town’s economy depending on tourism, Tenby has three huge factors in its favour: a fantastic situation on Carmarthen Bay, great road communications via the M4 and half a dozen or more top notch tourist attractions within a very short distance - the Fourcroft Hotel has arguably the best location for a hotel in town!” he said.

“Tenby has always been a favourite resort for visitors to Pembrokeshire and this hotel, with its fabulous views and beautiful private gardens leading down to the beach, is a very well-established destination for Wales, and further afield.”

A spokesperson for Duff and Phelps told the Observer this week: “The Fourcroft Hotel has been closed due to the impact of Covid-19. Interested parties in acquiring the Hotel should be advised to speak to the Joint Administrators.”

Contact can be made via email at: [email protected] or ‘phone on 0800 060 8747.

A notice on The Fourcroft Hotel entrance states: ‘due to the ongoing further impact on the business of the Covid-19 pandemic, unfortunately all bookings are cancelled with immediate effect.’

The notice further states: For those bookings that have paid deposits or purchased advance purchase rates in order to receive a refund please review the following:

• Where the deposit wsa paid direct to the hotel via a credit or debit card, please contact the issuing car company for a refund.

• Where the deposit was paid via a third-party agent or voucher site, please contact them directly and ask for a refund

• Where any deposits were paid via cheque, bank transfer or cash, please email [email protected] with the name of the hotel, your details, booking reference and the Joint Administrators’ agents will be in contact by return.

In the event that the card provider does not process a chargeback request, the customer must lodge a claim with the Joint Administrators and send to Duff and Phelps Ltd., The Chancery, 58 Spring Gardens, Manchester, M2 1 EW or MBIGroup@duffand phelps.com

The Fourcroft’s permenant closure is another blow to Tenby’s hotel and hospitality sector following the coronavirus crisis, after it was announced back in May that another popular seafront hotel The Imperial Hotel located along the Paragon, would cease trading, after the company that ran the facility went into administration.

The Imperial Hotel which enjoys spectacular views of the South Beach and looking out to Caldey Island was part of the Specialist Leisure Group company’s ‘Coast and Country Hotels’ sector.

All hotel breaks as well as tours, cruises and holidays booked with the Specialist Leisure Group were cancelled and would not be rescheduled after the company entered into administration on May 22.