GUESTS have been asked to leave the premises immediately following the the sudden closure of the Menzies Hotel in Swindon.

The business and assets of 12 hotels and the operating platform of the Menzies Hotels Group have been sold to the Topland Group and three of the hotels operating under shorter-term lease agreements have been closed, including Swindon, resulting in 49 job losses in the town.

A party for 140 people was planned for tonight at the Menzies Hotel, hours before the hotel closed its doors and threw staying guests off the premises.

The hotel was planning a number of Christmas events over the next few weeks and it is unlikely that guests who have paid their deposits will get their money back.

The general manager of the Marriott Hotel, Adam Flint, said he was devastated to hear the news and he would help all he could in what was going to be a major crisis.

“Regrettably I can’t help tonight or over the weekend because my hotel is jam packed. I have two major dinners on tonight, I’ve got two coach loads staying with me. It’s been the busiest yet over the year.

“The best thing I can suggest for people wanting to stay in the area is to go online and see what is available.”

There was no room either at Swindon’s other big hotel, the De Vere Village.

General manager Andrew Spink said: “ As far as tonight is concerned we have a number of private functions which have been booked for some months and nearly all our rooms have gone.

“Just like Adam we will do everything we can to help this situation during a time which is hectic.

“If we can accommodate people with bedrooms or function rooms in the run up to Christmas we certainly will. But this is our biggest time of the year and stays like this until the end of January.”

Paul Briggs, the CEO of the Thames Valley Chamber of Commerce group, which  has eight chambers including Swindon, Oxford and Reading under its wing, said he felt extremely sorry for the people who lost their jobs and those who would have lost money for their functions.

“When the dust settles I hope these people will be reimbursed. Just who is going to take over the Swindon Menzies  hotel is not clear at the moment. But it must be done quickly.

“Losing your job just before Christmas is heartbreaking.”