MYSTERY surrounds the closure of the Huddersfield Hotel – and an unpaid business rates bill.

The Huddersfield Hotel on Kirkgate is locked up with only a security company guarding the premises.

And a councillor says outstanding business rates relating to the hotel and its previous owners amount to as much as £267,000.

It marks a turbulent week for hoteliers in the town – guests and staff at the George Hotel were turfed out as bailiffs visited on Tuesday, although the hotel opened within hours with new owners.

However the future of the Huddersfield Hotel could be guaranteed as it’s believed the enterprising Sekhon Brothers of Bradford are interested in the property.

But its closure remains a mystery – the last known owner was John Paul Clarke, who owned but rented out parts of the block.

The adjoining Boy and Barrel is currently closed, while the Ill Gatto Nero restaurant is closed for refurbishment. An answerphone message says: “Ill Gatto Nero is closed for refurbishment, we will be opening again in four to five weeks”. It’s not known when the message was recorded.

The Zeus restaurant at the corner of Kirkgate and Beast Market remains open and a manager said yesterday they were tenants paying rent.