Hotel to reopen following administration

Sandwell's most famous restaurant, Jonathans in Oldbury, went into administration in October last year but is about to reopen as the four-star Accor All Seasons Hotel.

In its previous guise, the business was well loved for its traditional English cooking, attracting 300 visitors a week to the three-star, 45-bedroom hotel.

It underwent a multi-million-pound revamp in a bid to start attracting a new wave of customers and once it reopens in September, it will create 25 new jobs in the area.

At the licensing panel hearing on May 6, Mr Dan White, representing Jonathans, said, “What we want to do is create a high class establishment and there are millions of pounds being spent on the purchase and redevelopment of the premises.”

“Nobody else is currently offering to buy the premises so it isn’t the case that somebody else will jump into the fold.

“Nobody else is currently bidding to buy it off the administrators. This is its first shot and only shot at present to turn it into a profitable business,” he added.

Black Country entrepreneur Shiv Kumar Sharma, managing director of Brierley Hill-based hotels and property group Fortmere was granted the licence for the new hotel by Sandwell’s licensing bosses.

Mr Sharma was one of the directors of Jonathans Ltd and his property portfolio includes Wolverhampton’s Park Hall Hotel and a Ramada in Oldbury.

Fortmere spokesman Mr Ken Latham said, “Obviously the closure was sad in view of the fact such a well known restaurant closed, but we are really looking forward to reopening.”