A hotel, which closed suddenly leaving guests locked out, could be sold to a private company.
Enterprise Inns says it is in talks with a potential buyer for The Rock Hotel, Holywell Green, which closed suddenly on September 2 leaving guests locked out.
The hotel has been on sale for £600,000 although earlier in the month it had been on the market for £725,000.
An Enterprise Inns spokesman said: “We are in negotiations concerning the sale of The Rock Hotel, but are unable to say more at this stage due to the confidential nature of those negotiations.”
Enterprise said the hotel, also known as The Rock Inn, had closed after its previous manager Lawrence Smith left.
But Mr Smith, who was employed in February 2013 to look after the troubled venue, said he was informed at a day’s notice that the hotel was to be closed.
He said: “We were told on Monday, September 1 that the business had been sold. That was the first we heard about it.
“On Tuesday we were advised by Enterprise that the building was to be closed and we wouldn’t be required there any further.
“When we left on Tuesday it was very unexpected. That was our livelihood and we have our own bills to pay.”
Mr Smith added that Enterprise had allowed the venue to fall into disrepair. Several former guests complained on Trip Advisor about tired looking decor and staff shortages.
He said: “The problem is the place has been owned by a pub company with thousands of sites and it has been on their books for sale and therefore there has been no real interest in the site.
“I’m not blaming Enterprise but Enterprise as a system is geared towards pubs, not 27-bed hotels.”
While guests found themselves without a bed for the night, those with weddings and functions booked at The Rock Hotel found their plans in disarray.
Maggie and Paul Delee’s wedding plans were almost dashed when the venue closed less than two weeks before their big day.
The Longwood couple were steered back on track when Elland venue Bertie’s stepped in to host their wedding for free.
Maggie, 51, said: “I was in shock. I thought it was a hoax call.
“When we found out it was the truth we were upset and furious because I’d paid in full.”
But when Bertie’s found out, it offered to accommodate the couple’s reception at their banqueting rooms for free.
Maggie said: “The day was absolutely brilliant and a fantastic time was had by all.
“We felt betrayed but Bertie’s did us proud.
“Obviously we want to say a massive thank you to them; I don’t know what we’d have done without them.”
