A troubled hotel which closed after its manager suddenly left remains shut despite claims it would reopen last week.

And a message left by The Rock Hotel, at Holywell Green, has blamed the venue’s owners, Enterprise Inns, for its continued closure.

The hotel abruptly shut on September 2 leaving guests locked out and those with bookings in confusion.

Two weeks ago a message on the venue’s answerphone claimed the business would reopen on September 10.

But the hotel remained closed yesterday while a new recorded message advised customers to contact Enterprise Inns about the venue’s ‘potential reopening’.

The message said: “Due to circumstances unforeseen we are currently closed.

“They (Enterprise Inns) are the people who will be dealing with the reopening which was due to happen this week but unfortunately due to Enterprise Inns this has not taken place.”

It tells customers with bookings for functions at The Rock Hotel that they will be contacted by an ‘alternative venue’ within ‘three to four days’.

The hotel had been for sale at £725,000 on property website Fleurets – but on Monday the price had been slashed to £600,000.

Two weeks ago guests, who had been staying at The Rock Hotel, also known as The Rock Inn, found themselves shut out.

The front door had been boarded up with a note saying all items of value had been removed and all utilities had been switched off.

People who had functions including weddings booked have been trying to find alternative venues.

The Rock Inn has had a troubled history.

In March 2013, manager Lawrence Smith was brought in to spearhead the revival of the hotel which had faced closure.

Staff had previously been unpaid for weeks while hundreds of customers were refused meals.

A spokesman for Enterpirse Inns said: “Whilst we own the property, The Rock has been operated totally independently by the publican with sole responsibility for the day-to -day running of the business, including all bookings. We were given no notification of his intention to leave and have had no further communication from him.”