UK arm of Irish contractor suspended operations in May

Design and build specialist Ardmore has taken over construction of a new Hilton hotel in Croydon amidst the continuing fall-out from the collapse of the UK arm of Irish contractor Bowen.

Bowen Construction was originally awarded a £5m contract to build a new Hampton by Hilton hotel near East Croydon.

However the firm suspended all operations in May as it was unable to meet its liabilities to suppliers and other creditors.

In April, supplier Duffy Contracting Services filed a petition in the high court to wind up Bowen Construction after it failed to recover a debt of almost £200,000 from the company. The appointment of administrators to Bowen Construction halted those proceedings.

The Ireland-based company worked mainly on mid-sized jobs in London and the South-east.

Ardmore will finish off construction and fit-out of the 120-bed hotel - with practical completion expected by the end of November 2011.

The firm’s latest appointment follows its re-construction of 5-star Corinthia Hotel London, on Whitehall Place.