ABOUT 50 staff at the Marine Hotel and Spa in North Berwick are set to lose their jobs and some may be made homeless ahead of a refurbishment that will see the hotel close for five months.

In February, Adventurous Journeys (AJ) Capital, a Chicago-based hospitality and real estate company, bought the hotel from Macdonald Hotels.

It said then the hotel would undergo “extensive renovations” in autumn this year and that it would remain open throughout most of the work - and that jobs would not be impacted.

However, at a meeting on October 26, bosses stated that the hotel would close on January 4 for a “necessary” five-month refurbishment. The work had been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

During that time the hotel will not be receiving guests and will be closed to the public.

A letter sent to staff from Bruno De Schuyter, the hotel’s general manager, said: “It is anticipated that a small team will be needed to perform certain ongoing work at the hotel during the closure and renovations, but the closure will otherwise mean that there is no work available for most members of staff. 

“As such, the company is envisaging a need to make redundancies.”

The letter adds that, “in view of the current situation”, about 50 members of staff could be made redundant, described as something that “will probably be necessary”.

About 60 people work at the hotel, which means that most of its staff may lose their jobs.

However the hotel said it is “determined” and “will do its best to keep the number of redundancies to a minimum”.

Staff can also apply for voluntary redundancy.

The hotel and hospitality industry has, of course, been hit hard by Covid-19 pandemic - with venues such as The Marine having to close during lockdown and, since then, enduring a slump in domestic and overseas visitors due to travel restrictions and other related factors.

It is believed that staff may need to reapply for their jobs once the refurbishment is complete.

One staff member told the Courier that those who live in accommodation provided by the hotel and are made redundant will be made homeless.

A spokesperson for the Marine Hotel and Spa said: “Marine Hotel and Spa in North Berwick will close for renovations in January 2021. Renovations will encompass all guest rooms and public areas. 

“The hotel will reopen to guests later in 2021. 

“As with the majority of closures for refurbishments there will be redundancies; however, we are investing in the property to ensure its long-term future, as a hotel and employer.

“We cannot confirm further details at this time.”