THE company behind a popular Colne Valley hotel and wedding venue has gone into administration.

But it remains “business as usual” at the Hey Green Hotel in Marsden while efforts to find a buyer go on.

Dermot Power and Patrick Lannagan, business partners at accountancy firm BDO in Manchester, have been appointed joint administrators over Hey Green Ltd.

The company ran the Hey Green Hotel, a historic 18th century house with 13 acres of private grounds.

The hotel employs 29 staff but the administrators have had to make six employees redundant.

The Hey Green Hotel continues to trade and is currently being operated by Hey Green Hotels Ltd under a licence granted by the joint administrators.

Ashley Dodson, of South Crosland, and his fiancee Nicola Barker – who are due to marry at the hotel in February – said they had heard rumours about the hotel being in difficulties and were now worried about going ahead with the booking.

“We don’t want to be biting our fingernails for the next two months wondering if everything is going to be all right,” said Mr Dodson.

“We are ringing around other venues now, but most of them are booked up.”

But Mr Power said: “It is business as usual for the Hey Green Hotel.

“We would advise existing customers seeking further information on their bookings to contact the hotel management to re-confirm.”

“Unfortunately, the economic climate and difficult trading conditions have significantly affected the company.

“However, we are hopeful of achieving a sale of the hotel and it will continue to operate while all opportunities are explored.”

On its website the hotel is described as “an exclusive venue on the edge of Marsden Moor and Saddleworth Moor.”

It says: “We host over 100 events annually, mainly weddings and civil partnerships and many private functions such as wedding anniversary celebrations, birthday parties, christenings, reaffirmation of vows, baby naming ceremonies – to name but a few!

“During the week we also host corporate events such as departmental meetings, board meetings, training and team building events, job interviews, product launches etc.”