The closure of Nottingham’s castle after a multi-million-pound investment is a ‘huge disappointment’, the city council has said.
It was announced yesterday that Nottingham Castle Trust has gone into liquidation after a £33m revamp failed to attract the predicted 300,000 visitors a year.
A statement from the trust issued yesterday said: ‘We are saddened to announce that Nottingham Castle Trust has begun the process of appointing liquidators and the Castle grounds and exhibitions will remain closed to all visitors until further notice.’
Nottingham City Council’s portfolio holder for leisure, culture & planning, Cllr Pavlos Kotsonis, said: ‘It is a matter of huge disappointment that Nottingham Castle Trust, which has been responsible for operating Nottingham Castle, has informed us that in light of its trading performance, it is in the process of appointing liquidators and closing the site, which it will be handing back to the council.
‘This is clearly a significant blow for the city and its visitor economy. The council’s immediate priority is to work with the appointed liquidators to support those staff at the Castle who have been affected by this sad news, and to safeguard the site and its collections while it is not operational.’