The new American owners of Oxford's historic Randolph Hotel have confirmed they are making most of the staff redundant in what has been described as an 'insulting' public statement.

Last week it emerged that Graduate Hotels, which acquired the Macdonald-owned building in Beaumont Street in December, was making 75 out of 84 of its staff redundant before a six-month refurbishment gets under way on October 17.

The decision followed an indication last year from the Chicago-based chain that the name of the five-star hotel would change from the Randolph to Graduate Oxford.

Oxford Mail:

Now - one week after staff were told they were no longer needed - the chain has finally responded to this paper's request for a comment.

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Communications manager Caroline Stephens said: "Randolph Hotel is closing for renovations in October 2020.

"This closure is part of the plan announced upon acquiring the property in late 2019.

"As part of these renovations, we have made the difficult decision to make staff redundant as the hotel remains closed for business while extensive interior renovations take place.

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"We are grateful to the team that has supported the hotel to date and look forward to welcoming back guests and locals upon our reopening in 2021."

Oxford Mail:

Stuart Jarvis

Stuart Jarvis, 66, who lives near Abingdon and has been a regular guest at the Randolph, said it was 'insulting' for the chain to wait a week before confirming the redundancies.

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He added: "I know the staff will feel insulted - they face a difficult time getting new jobs at a time when the jobs market is being flooded with employees being made redundant - Cineworld has just announced its cinemas are closing.

"It's an atrocious way to treat loyal staff, some of whom have worked there for many years, and I for one won't be going back when it reopens.

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"The new owners are changing the name, the interior and the staff and that's a big gamble after a six-month refurbishment when the competition from other hotels in Oxford is strong."

Oxford Mail:

Last week the hotel's general manager Philip Lewis said AJ Capital, which owns Graduate Hotels, were 'the first owners of this property in some time to invest the money required to bring it back to its former glory'.

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A multi-million pound refurbishment was completed by Macdonald following a major fire in 2015 which started in the kitchen when some beef stroganoff got overcooked.

Mr Lewis added in an email to Mr Jarvis: "The work done so far with the design team and historians is nothing short of breathtaking and the Victorian Gothic designs for the bedrooms and public space will certainly be a talking point, and something which visitors and locals alike can enjoy for years to come.

"The plans for the hotel are such that we expect it to be a far busier and vibrant space than before, resulting in the potential for us to increase the employee head count by over 10 per cent.

Oxford Mail:

"During the vigorous recruitment drive that will begin in March 2021 I would hope that many of the current staff would re-apply for positions."

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Mr Jarvis added: "As I understand it the management are keeping their distance from staff who are already applying for new jobs."

A spokesman for the chain said last year: "Renovations will begin in fall 2020, and the 151-key hotel will open as Graduate Oxford, part of the Graduate Hotels collection, in early spring 2021."

Oxford Mail:

Graham Jones

Graham Jones, a member of Oxford traders' group ROX - (Rescue Oxford) Backing Oxford Business, said: "The new owners are not being loyal to all the staff who have been there for many years and it would have been better if they could have found another way forward.

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"But there are other chains building new hotels in Oxford like Premier Inn, Reef at the former Boswells, and easyHotel in Summertown, so there could be opportunities for Randolph staff."