THE Mercure St Helens hotel is to remain open in the short-term in the face of an uncertain future. 

The 84-room hotel's future has been thrown into doubt after months of "financial difficulties". 

Formerly known as the Chalon Way Hotel, it joined the Mercure brand in June last year, however, it remains privately owned.

There are fears for up to 30 jobs.

The hotel has been listed as closed on a number of websites.

A spokesman for the hotel's owner said the Bank of India had decided to put the hotel in liquidation following months of financial difficulty.

Vijay Sharma, from management company New World Hospitality, said: “The future of the hotel is currently in the hands of the bank.

"Staff have not been paid for going on five weeks and we are hoping that these steps by the bank means they will now get paid.

"Around 25 to 30 staff are going to be left without a job, though Accor Hotels are hoping to place them in other partner hotels in the area.

"We have events booked at the hotel and I know that at least five brides have paid deposits for their weddings from March – I know the group are aiming to place these in other hotels as well.

"I totally empathise with the staff and visitors, please know we did everything we can but now the future of the hotel is in the hands of the bank.

"The owner wrote to the bank on January 2 passing on responsibility, my thoughts are with the staff who are worried about their future in this horrible situation."

St Helens Star:

Yesterday a spokesman for AccorHotels added: “We have been made aware by the owners and management company of Mercure St Helens that the hotel has been experiencing some financial difficulties.

“They are currently working hard to secure the ongoing operation of the hotel.”

Around 35 memebrs of staff have attended a meeting at the hotel today. 

Staff members said they have been told the hotel is to remain open in the short-term and will be put up for sale in the near future. 

One staff member told the Star: "It's disgusting what has happened here, especially to the brides because quite frankly there's no money to give back to them."