Luxury hotel to reopen afterclosing doors

A LUXURY hotel in Leeds which went into administration five months after opening is to reopen next month.

The Ellington, in York Place, opened for business in September 2008 in a blaze of publicity, with 35 rooms, an art deco restaurant overseen by Albert Roux and a listing in the Leading Small Hotels of the World directory.

But the owner, City Retreats Group, fell into administration last February and the hotel closed its doors soon after.

Administrators confirmed the sale of the hotel in March to Edinburgh-based West Register (Realisations) Limited for 3.13m.

It is now set to reopen next month, according to Bespoke Hotels, its new operator. The company said work is proceeding on a refurbishment, although the hotel is expected to maintain its 1950s jazz theme – it is named in tribute to Duke Ellington.

The Ellington was previously operated by Pantin Hotels.