Failed restaurant staff 'owed wages'

Former staff from a failed Black Country restaurant and hotel are still waiting to be paid six weeks of wages, it has emerged.

Jonathans, in Wolverhampton Road, Oldbury, closed suddenly a fortnight ago and is now in the hands of administrators Smith & Williamson, who are trying to sell the venue off as quickly as possible. A total of 25 former workers were made redundant when it closed and it is believed that they are all still waiting to be paid.

One worker, who did not want to be named, said: "We are all owed six weeks' wages, then on top of that we should be owed some sort of redundancy package.

"We had no idea the business was even in trouble so all this has come out of the blue. The first we heard was when the administrators walked in and told us we had lost our jobs. Since then I haven't heard a thing.

"We have some forms to fill in but there have been no guarantees".

The landmark three star 45-bedroom hotel and eaterie had been running for 30 years and boasted around 300 visitors a week.

Renowned for its traditional English cooking, it was Sandwell's most famous restaurant, but now all its doors and windows are covered with metal shutters.

Kate Harrison, from administrators Smith & Williamson, said: "Staff affected by this administration should already have the appropriate forms to enable them to submit a claim to the Redundancy Payments Office.

"The RPO agrees the claims, and funds are paid from the National Insurance Fund. Smith & Williamson is continuing to try to facilitate the process for the individuals concerned to enable them to be paid the monies that they are owed."

Former members of staff can call Smith & Williamson's Worcester office on 01905 730100.