Former staff at Albion House hotel in Ramsgate say they are still owed wages after being made redundant at the end of last year.
Some nine employees are understood to have received notice of redundancy on December 31 with business owner Alberta Gaskin saying the company was entering liquidation.
However, staff say that they understand new employees have since been taken on as the venue continues to trade.
Filings with Companies House under the owning company of Field & Stone do not, as yet, show documents for an administration process.
An email sent to employees said: “It is with regret I inform you that Field & Stone Limited, trading as Albion House Ramsgate, is entering liquidation.
“This means that the business will be closing and all operations will cease. I am writing to formally confirm that your employment will be terminated by reason of redundancy.”
Staff were directed to the Redundancy Payments Service for outstanding wages.
The notice also confirmed the appointment of an insolvency practitioner from KBL Advisory.
‘New employees’
One parent of a former staff member said: “My daughter, along with eight other employees was emailed on New Year’s Eve to be told that they no longer had a job because the company was going into liquidation.
“They have not been paid for the month leading up to New Year’s Eve, some people working Christmas Day.
“Although they were going into liquidation the hotel didn’t close their doors and have carried on trading and recently have advertised and taken in new employees for the same positions that other lost their jobs for.”
Albion House opened as a boutique hotel in December 2014. It received a £350,000 interest-free loan from Kent County Council’s Regional Growth Fund which is listed as an outstanding charge on Companies House.
Original owners Ben and Emma Irvine no longer head up the business. It was taken over by Alberta Gaskin in November 2024.
‘Financial difficulty’
Ms Gaskin said concerns about outstanding wages “are currently being reviewed by the liquidators.”
She added: “Albion House is issuing the following statement in response to recent media enquiries regarding staffing changes at the business.
“Like many hospitality and events businesses, Albion House experienced significant operational and financial pressures in recent years. As a result, the company entered liquidation which regrettably led to staff redundancies.
“We recognise that redundancy is a deeply challenging and personal experience for those affected. A licensed liquidator has been engaged to manage the process and to ensure that former employees are supported in making claims for any outstanding entitlements owed to them.
“The decision to enter liquidation was not taken lightly and followed a period of sustained financial difficulty.
“Looking ahead, a new company will be taking over the business with a formal announcement to be made in due course.”
‘No additional roles’
Ms Gaskin says the appointed liquidators have confirmed they have responded to all former employees who have contacted them.
She added: “Each individual has been provided with an RP1 factsheet to support any claims for outstanding wages, and it has been clearly explained that claims cannot be formally submitted until the company has officially entered liquidation.
“The business has only recruited into the remaining role that became vacant following the redundancies. No additional roles have been created or filled beyond this.”
The new company taking over the business has not yet been named.
According to Companies House, Ms Gaskin also incorporated Great Hotels Ltd in March 2025. Great Hotels is a name change for Broun Investment Ltd which was dissolved via compulsory strike-off last June. The new company name was recorded in July.
Company Broun Homes Ltd, incorporated in 2023 with Ms Gaskin as director, was also dissolved via compulsory strike-off last September.
In 2015 Albion House Ramsgate featured on TV programme The Hotel Inspector with Alex Polizzi.
The property was built in 1791 and designed by Mary Townley, one of Britain’s pioneering female architects.
