Hotel where rugby league began closes doors following failed search for buyer

Dismayed staff at the George Hotel in Huddersfield, which is up for sale, were told at a meeting on Wednesday they were being made redundant.

It is understood any remaining guests were informed they had to leave and were found alternative accommodation.

The historic hotel’s basement is home to the Rugby League Heritage Centre, which is separately owned and will not form part of the sale.

The centre was set up in 2005 and is home to a collection of rare memorabilia, caps, jerseys, medals, trophies, old programmes and pictures.

A statement from Colliers International which is acting as the receivers, said: “On 2 January 2013 the Royal Bank of Scotland appointed Jon Cookson and Nigel Nattress as Joint Law of Property Act Receivers of The George Hotel, Huddersfield. The hotel is no longer trading and staff and customers have been informed.”

Jon Cookson, head of corporate restructuring at Colliers International, said: “The George Hotel has been on the market for a number of months. Unfortunately a sale was not achievable and it is with regret, the hotel had to close on 2 January 2013.

“Colliers International will now be actively marketing the site and looking to find a buyer as soon as possible.”

The hotel’s Founders Bar on the ground floor is credited as the birthplace of Rugby League in 1895.

The Grade II listed 19th century building earned its place in the history books when 21 rugby union clubs from both sides of the Pennines met to discuss their dispute with the Rugby Football Union over compensating working class players for wages lost while playing the game.

The meeting led to the establishment of the Northern Rugby Football Union, the forerunner to today’s Rugby League.

The George, which has 60 bedrooms and was built in 1851 to designs by William Walker, is for sale with a guide price of £1.395m.

According to a brochure for the sale, the hotel’s forecast turnover for 2011 was £1,031,531 compared with £896,983 in 2010.

Any customers of The George Hotel with queries are being advised to contact the liquidator of the Management Company, Rollings Oliver LLP.