Late bookings surge for hotel chain in administration

A chain of hotels based near Bath experienced its best April foryears - despite going into administration last month.

Peasedown St John-based von Essen, which runs the Royal CrescentHotel and Homewood Park, said the double four-day bank holidayweekends had produced a surge in late bookings as couples opted fora taste of royal wedding-style class.

The parent company which runs the hotels has gone intoadministration, after a turbulent couple of years in the high-endhotel and spa business.

The venues themselves are operating as normal whileadministrators at Ernst and …