Judges tell hotelier he has no room for appeal

Published on 12/12/2012 00:00

A LONDON hotel owner who described his wife as “no more than a receptionist” today lost a £700,000 divorce cash fight.

Debra Davies had been awarded a £2.2 million lump sum by a divorce court judge, following a trial last year, after her marriage to Andrew Davies broke down.

Mr Davies, who runs the Cardiff Hotel, in London, appealed claiming Mrs Davies was “properly entitled” to £1.5m.

The 49-year-old had told the court that he was “in love” with the hotel. He described himself as “a force of nature” but said his Australian-born wife, the mother of his two children, was no more than “a good employee.”

But three Court of Appeal judges unanimously dismissed his appeal, after a hearing in London.

“Mr Davies’s principal case was that the wife was no more than a receptionist who had been employed intermittently,” said Lord Justice Thorpe, who heard the appeal with Lord Justice Elias and Lord Justice Rimer.

“Mrs Davies’s case was that the status of the hotel had risen almost dramatically as a result of her energy, enterprise and marketing skills.

“At the trial, on the oral evidence, Mrs Davies succeeded to a high degree.”

And Lord Justice Rimer added: “There is no sound basis upon which this court can interfere with the [trial] judge’s order.”