Adelphi owners Britannia post huge profits despite being 'UK's worst hotel chain'

Britannia, which runs the Liverpool's Adelphi Hotel, saw an increase in pre-tax profit.

The company was named as the UK's worst hotel chain for the 11th consecutive year in October last year, according to Which?'s rankings. It received a score of just 48% and a one-star rating for bedrooms, bathrooms and quality of the wi-fi. The chain scored no higher than two stars in any of the remaining categories – including cleanliness.

Despite its low rankings, the hotel chain has seen an increase in pre-tax profit from £33.4m in 2022 to £39.4m in 2023. New documents on Companies House also showed an increase in the number of employees, from 1,818 to 2,365.

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In a statement signed off by the board, it said: "This results represents an exceptional performance achieved during a period of difficult trading conditions which continues to limit opportunities for growth. Our priorities continue to be maintaining occupancy levels and to manage operating costs whilst ensuring that the business is well placed to exploit the opportunities of the future."

The directors added they also look to "exploit further investment in new properties" in the future. The struggles of Britannia-run The Adelphi in recent years have been well publicised. Once considered a gem of the city, the hotel on Ranelagh Place in the city centre has now become a source of scorn.

The ECHO has run countless articles on complaints from guests who have stayed there in recent times. In September 2021, 21-year-old Chloe Haynes was found dead in her room.

Chloe's mum Nicola Williams told the ECHO her daughter had died after a wardrobe in the room she was staying in fell on her and crushed her windpipe. Merseyside Police confirmed her death is being treated as "accidental".

In Which?'s annual survey of the worst hotel chain in the UK, Britannia Hotels came bottom in 16th place.

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