Weddings of up to 40 couples in jeopardy as Tipperary hotel closes with immediate effect

25 jobs were also lost at the hotel in Aherlow in Tipperary.

The weddings of up to 40 couples could be in jeopardy after Aherlow House yesterday confirmed that they would be ceasing trading with immediate effect. A statement released yesterday by the hotel confirmed that it had been obliged to cease trading on February 9 and surrender possession of the hotel to the Receiver of Aherlow House, Mr Costelloe of Messrs Grant Thornton, Limerick office. The hotel had been in negotiations with the receiver over an extended period with regard to the future of the property and had been under the expectation that it would continue to operate the premises and continue to receive bookings for functions on dates in the future. When those negotiations proved unsuccessful and when it became clear that the lease would not be renewed or extended, the hotel ceased trading with immediate effect and is now not in a position to carry through bookings received. It is believed that approximately 40 weddings were due to take place at the hotel this year and while some weddings (including one next week) have been successfully relocated, the fate of many others remains in jeopardy. The receivers, Grant Thorton, supplied JOE with a statement today, saying that the receiver is in contact with couples who booked weddings in the hotel and in advanced discussions with potential operators and purchasers with a view to reopening the hotel as soon as possible. Grant Thornton added that it is likely that the new operator will re-employ all staff formerly employed by the hotel. The statement in full reads as follows: “Grant Thornton, as Receiver to the property, has confirmed that it has taken possession of the Aherlow House Hotel from Auburn Hotels (Aherlow) Limited (“AHA), the operating company that has leased Aherlow House Hotel since 2011. “The Receiver has asked AHA to contact customers that had booked weddings with the Hotel so that AHA can refund any deposits to those customers. “The Receiver is also contacting those customers who had booked weddings at the venue for 2016 to 2018 to advise them that the hotel is temporarily closed but that it is advanced discussions with potential operators and purchasers with a view to reopening the hotel as soon as possible. “It is envisaged that the new operator will be in touch with those who had booked weddings in due course and in the interim those dates will be held for wedding couples who had originally booked. It is also envisaged that the new operator will re-employ all staff formerly employed by AHA.” “Further updates will be provided as matters develop.” Images via aherlowhouse.ie