Wellingborough hotelier vows to carry on despite smash and grab raid

A Wellingborough hotel owner has voiced his anger that thieves targeted his premises in a smash and grab raid during the Covid-19 crisis.

Marcus Holden, owner of the Hind Hotel, has been keeping his business open to look after key workers who are guests.

But on Sunday night, a person climbed scaffolding on the hotel, smashed through one of the newly refurbished leaded windows and snatched a bottle of spirits through the broken pane of the 400-year-old Oak Bar.

Mr Holden said: "It makes a mockery of the people who are doing their best to stay open. I suppose that's life that there will always be these idiots who will take advantage of a situation."

And he added: "Such acts are the thin end of the wedge in these times."

Mr Holden said that people in the hotel heard the glass smash but by the time they reached the window the thief had gone.

He said: "I'm just glad nobody got hurt. We're annoyed. We have CCTV but it wan't very clear. They must have jumped across from another building onto our scaffold because ours is not accessible from the ground. It was very dangerous."

Mr Holden has been open for business because he is a designated hotel for essential key workers many of whom who are working on the Midland Mainline electrification upgrade.

His staff have been coming into work as normal to look after guests.

He said: "We've made the decision to keep everyone employed. We're not letting anyone go but we've had to furlough a few people.

"We employ 23 people and our staff have been fantastic.This week has been more or less normal. We're doing deep-cleaning and a few painting jobs. Everyone has been brilliant to keep the hotel running.

"I will be financially supporting them and providing the government does come through with the 80 per cent payment promise it will enable us to carry on. Staff can't wait four weeks to be paid."

And he added: "Ninety per cent of our bookings are work related. Some people have cancelled and weekends are decimated but our suppliers have been fantastic, my staff have been over-whelming and the clientele are fantastic.".