Bellinter House company to go into liquidation

THE COMPANY behind luxury hotel Bellinter House in Co Meath is to go into voluntary liquidation today.

Bellinter House Ltd, owned by Dublin restaurateur Jay Bourke and businessmen John Reynolds and Simon Kelly, will go into liquidation, but the Navan hotel will remain open.

A newly formed company, Patrick Hotels, owned by Bourke and Reynolds, will take over the hotel’s running.

Bellinter House was built in the 18th century in Palladian style. It was designed by renowned architect Richard Cassels who also designed Russborough House, Carton House, Powerscourt and Leinster House.

It is a listed building and, along with its extensive gardens, is open to the general public.

Mr Bourke bought the 34-bedroom hotel, on the banks of the river Boyne, with his two business partners last year.

The jobs of 50 employees will be unaffected by the change of company, Mr Bourke said last night, and customers would also be unaffected.

He said he and his business partner would be the biggest losers in the change of company as they had invested €2.5 million in developing the hotel and were its biggest creditors. He said the decision to liquidate the company had been very hard and was made after great consideration and thought.

“It was the best option for the hotel, the jobs and the bank.”