Thistle Hotels plc has added 15 companies to a claim for the recovery of more than £26m, following its earlier allegations that Orb Estates plc had failed to honour a £15m payment when purchasing 37 of Thistle’s 58 hotels in March 2002.
The claimant issued proceedings against Orb Estates, Gamma Four Ltd and Euro & UK Property Ltd in November 2002. The High Court has now allowed Thistle to include as defendants Exitcluster Ltd, Kingsmead Hotels Ltd, London Park Hotels Ltd, LPH London Park, LPH Angus, Arden Hotel (Stratford upon Avon), Pinewood Hotel, Gale Six, Castle Ross Hotels, Mount Charlotte Hotels, Gale Four, Picnic Baskets Restaurants, H Taylor (1989), Grand Hotel Co Bristol, and Hotel Portfolio 11 UK (the group companies).
Thistle is seeking to recover £10m, advanced between April and May 2002, from the new defendant group companies, as a debt or as money had and received. Alternatively, it is claiming the money either from Orb Estates, or from Gamma Four, as chief debtor, with Orb Estates and Euro & UK Property as guarantors.
Under the original claim, Thistle is seeking £24,124,429 plus interest from Gamma, Orb and Euro & UK Property.
References: PLS News 18/02/03
