Staff at Angel Hotel in Lavenham claim they are owed more than £23,000 in unpaid wages after venue’s closure

Staff at a Lavenham hotel, which suddenly shut its doors last month, claim they are owed more than £23,000 in unpaid wages.

The Angel Hotel in Market Place ceased trading on February 12, with a statement on social media citing “insurmountable financial difficulties” behind the closure.

Following the closure, the venue’s employees reported that they had not received part of January’s payroll, nor had they had been paid for their work between January 21 and February 12.

In total, this is said to amount to £23,462.18 in outstanding pay, for 24 staff members.

An online fundraising appeal has since been launched via GoFundMe, seeking the community’s help to recoup these lost earnings, with more than £1,000 donated in the first week.

A statement on behalf of the workers indicated that the Angel Hotel had operated under SRPH Ltd since June 2023.

However, they claimed there were “no assets or funds available to settle any outstanding debts”, leaving staff both out of a job and in a “financially difficult situation”.

It was also reported on the social media post that a number of the hotel’s suppliers had been left out of pocket.

Andrew Guy, who organised the appeal, said: “Our team worked tirelessly through the busy Christmas period, giving up precious time with loved ones, to ensure guests had a wonderful experience.

“Despite our hard work, we were never paid for January’s wages – £6,330.70 in total.

“On top of that, when the hotel abruptly shut its doors, we lost even more – amounting to £17,131.48.

“Now, all of us are out of work, struggling to cover essential payments like rent, credit card bills, and other financial commitments.

“Unfortunately, the hotel will not be reopening under our staffing team, and the business itself is unable to pay the wages we are owed.

“This means there is no future pay-out coming – without outside help, we won’t receive the money we worked for.

“Every penny raised will go toward ensuring the hardworking staff receive the pay they rightfully earned.”

The team also paid tribute to the support of its customers, adding that their “kindness, patronage, and community spirit” meant so much to all those who worked there.

To view the GoFundMe appeal for the former Angel Hotel staff, go online to www.gofundme.com/f/help-the-staff-of-the-angel-hotel-get-the-wages-theyre-owed.

The Angel Hotel was approached for comment.