A hotel owner who was accused of failing to pay sacked staff after he accepted 'a private Government contract' said workers have been compensated in full.

Whately Hall Hotel in Banbury shut suddenly with some staff saying they had been left jobless and without pay in the run-up to Christmas.

Former head chef Jordan Blencowe organised a protest at the hotel after being informed on November 25 that the hotel had accepted a Home Office contract.

READ MORE: Banbury hotel staff protest over job losses at Christmas 

Staff said they were owed their last month's pay as well as redundancy, notice and holiday pay.

Owner Ravi Ruparelia said he had taken out a £100,000 loan to cover all of the money owed.

He said the hotel was now being used to house "refugee children".

Banbury MP Victoria Prentis previously said: "It is unacceptable that those at the Whately Hall have found themselves in this position, particularly at this time of year."

Mr Blencowe has confirmed that he has been contacted by Ms Prentis and has been fully paid.

Mr Ruparelia told the BBC many staff had been offered new jobs while a minority had taken redundancy after his firm, Whately (Op) Ltd, was placed in the hands of liquidators.

He said: "The normal course of action [for staff] would be to go through the Insolvency Service.

"But we wanted to make sure they got all of their money before Christmas."

Mr Ruparelia said the hotel was now owned through a "complex arrangement" with his firm Whately (Prop) Ltd.

 

 

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