A MINEHEAD pub and hotel which closed its doors unexpectedly shortly before Christmas has gone into administration.

Staff were laid off at the York House Inn in December but The Avenue business could reopen if plans by London-based Moorfields Corporate Recovery LLP to sell it as a going concern come to fruition.

The company announced this week that Simon Thomas and Fred Satow had been appointed as administrators.

In a statement, Mr Thomas said: "We are currently exploring the possibility of a phased reopening using a specialist management agent with a view to achieving a sale as a going concern."

Jobs for bar staff, offering between 20 and 30 hours a week, are currently being advertised with Jobcentre Plus.

The York House Inn was bought by Trojan Taverns in 2007, which until late last year was run under the joint directorship of Jonathan Swannack and Joyce Jesson - the wife of businessman and former resort director at Minehead's Butlins holiday centre Kyran Jesson.

Mr Swannack told the Free Press in December that he had been the sole director for the previous month to six weeks.

The York has 15 en suite rooms, a function suite and big screen facilities for sports fans, as well as bars and restaurants.

In a statement the administrators said: "The licensed trade sector has faced a tough couple of months following the bad weather before Christmas and with the recent rise in VAT many publicans will need to remain proactive to ride out the storm."

Any creditors or interested parties are being asked to contact the administrators on 0208 5281575.