A popular North East tourist attraction collapsed with debts of more than £680,000, documents filed at Companies House have revealed.
The owners of Durham’s Crook Hall and Gardens announced they had been forced to permanently close the picturesque property and surrounding grounds in July, citing the impact of the lockdown to stop the spread of Covid-19 for leading to its liquidation.
The 13th Century Grade I listed medieval hall and wedding venue, one of County Durham’s hidden gem destinations, was closed for 10 weeks during the lockdown, and its 19 employees were furloughed and weddings postponed.
The decision left many couples’ planned weddings in ruins and owners Keith and Maggie Bell have said the hall will have to go on the market.
The grand property, which encapsulates the development of English architecture over four centuries, was bought as a family home for Mr and Mrs Bell before they opened it up to the public in 1997.
They called in Smith & Williamson LLP, who have since been appointed as liquidator, and a statement of affairs document has been published on Companies House, showing the firm went into liquidation owing £688,886.
The form shows that, as of July 7, just £59,000 was available for creditors.
Preferential creditors include the employees who are owed £8,212 in holiday pay, while £1,004 is owed to pension schemes.
Some £738,732 is owed to unsecured creditors, which will include couples who had hoped to marry at Crook Hall.
Unsecured non-preferential claims include trade and expense creditors who are owed £5,480, 19 employees who are owed £51,161 and the directors themselves, Maggie and Keith Bell, who are owed £389,268 by the business.
Meanwhile, banks and instirutions are owed £50,000, while HMRC is owed at least £18,315 for VAT and PAYE – the amount owed in corporation tax is ‘uncertain’.
A third is owed to 143 consumer creditors who are owed a whopping £224,508.
At the time of the firm’s collapse the owners Maggie and Keith Bell said: “We are so very sad to let you know Crook Hall and Gardens is about to go into liquidation.
“We are devastated about the effect this will have on our wonderful staff and customers.
“It is a horrible situation. We will have to put the hall and gardens up for sale as soon as is practical.”