Hotel group steps in to save the day for Pontin's

The future of holiday camp brand Pontin's was secured yesterday after administrators announced its sale in a move which will safeguard the jobs of all 850 staff.

The 64-year-old business, which called in administrators KPMG in November, has been sold to the Britannia Hotel Group which owns the Adelphi in Liverpool and 35 other UK hotels including a site in Aberdeen.

Alex Langsam, owner of Britannia, said the prospects for Pontin's were "very exciting".

He added: "Pontin's will remain a national treasure, to be enjoyed by generations to come."

All five sites - at Brean Sands in Somerset, Camber Sands in Sussex, Pakefield in Suffolk, Prestatyn Sands in Denbighshire and Southport in Merseyside - have continued to run as normal while KPMG looked for a buyer.

In November, KPMG said Pontin's had run out of cash because bookings had fallen drastically throughout 2010. It is understood it had debts of around 47 million.

Rob Croxen, restructuring director at KPMG, said: "The business attracted a high level of interest from a broad range of investors such as wealthy individuals, private equity houses, property developers and trade buyers.

"We are really pleased that Britannia, a leisure operator with a proven track record, has clinched the winning bid ensuring Pontin's lives on."