A BOURNEMOUTH hotel has closed for accommodation and banqueting for six months, with the loss of several jobs.

The Marsham Court Hotel, in Russell Cotes Road, will remain open for residential guests but, because the hotel will not be providing its usual Christmas-themed functions, several staff were let go on Monday.

Business development director Jane Swift said: “The hotel is closed for accommodation and banqueting until the February 28, 2021.

We have been one of the first businesses to announce this, but I can see other hoteliers following suit

"Our main business at this time of year is groups who have been coming for many years for their dance, whist and bridge holidays and these types of holidays just can’t take place at the moment."

“Most have simply moved their dates to later in 2021/22 when they tell us they will be more confident to travel.

“The hotel is still open for business meetings, training events, weddings etc in line with Government Guidance and we have several initiatives planned for the local community such as Tea Trolley Tuesday, Frazzled Friday’s and Doggy Brunch on a Sunday.”

The hotel say they have been able to keep more staff on because of the government support with furlough and now the additional support coming in from November for six months.

Marsham Court’s Tea Trolley Tuesday and Frazzled Friday will begin on Tuesday, October 6, from 2pm to 5.30pm and Friday, October 9, from 4.30pm to 6.30pm respectively.

The hotel’s Doggy Brunch starts this weekend on Sunday from 9am to 12pm.

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Jane added: “It has been a hard for us, but we think we have come up with a solution which will keep some of our regular customers happy whilst keeping all of our guests safe.

“We have been one of the first businesses to announce this, but I can see other hoteliers following suit.

“We have also assisted many of the staff facing redundancy to find alternative employment and are hopeful that many will return next year when we are fully open again.

“On a positive note, it is giving us an opportunity to do a lot of work to the hotel that is impossible to implement when the we are busy with residential guests.

“We are therefore going to be using this period to make lots of improvements in order to safeguard our business for the future.”