Can a buyer be found for the listed former post office? Credit: archive

Four more Signature firms enter administration

Signature Living Preston and Loyola Hall, the two companies responsible for Preston’s Shankly Hotel and the Rainhill Hall Hotel, respectively, have entered administration.

Along with the hotel businesses, event catering business Signature Eden and Signature Living Lifestyles Ltd, have also been placed into administration.

Lawrence Kenwright, the founder and figurehead of the Signature Living group, was listed as the sole active director of all four companies.

Matthew Ingram and Michael Lennon of Kroll Advisory were appointed as joint administrators of the businesses in the High Court of Justice on 10 August.

A grade two-listed former royal residence, Rainhill Hall was opened by the group in 2020. Preston’s Shankly Hotel, at the city’s former main post office building, was meant to open last summer.

The news represents a further unravelling of the Liverpool-centred hotel and residential group. In April 2020, Signature Living Hotel Ltd and Signature Shankly Ltd went into administration as the Covid pandemic bit, with various other ventures then falling by the wayside.

These included a boutique hotel scheme in Manchester’s Castlefield, where consent was secured in partnership with Iliad. The project was bought this summer by Salboy.

In early 2021, Kenwright announced plans to muster support for rescue deals to reclaim assets such as Liverpool’s Shankly Hotel and 30 James Street, in alliance with an investor group.

The group also progressed a scheme at Kingsway House in Liverpool. The original Shankly Hotel was put up for sale by Kroll in May last year.

Both Signature and Kroll were approached for comment.

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