Two banks – Lloyds and Barclays – have called in administrators Ernst & Young on Von Essen Hotels Ltd after the company failed to make interest payments on its £250m debt.  The company owns 26 luxury hotels in UK and France, including some of the finest stately homes and castles in the country including Thornbury Castle, Cliveden, Ston Easton Park and Ynyshir Hall.

The administration only covers this company, and other parts of the business, including British onshore operator Premiair Aviation and London’s Battersea Heliport are reportedly not affected.  However, they are in the common ownership of Andrew Davies, and it would not be prudent to believe they will emerge completely unscathed.

HeliHub.com will investigate the situation further and plans to produce a further article early next week on this subject.