STOURBRIDGE’S historic Talbot Hotel has shut its doors leaving staff and residents out in the cold and facing a miserable Christmas.

Around 22 staff have lost their jobs, many of whom were today (Wednesday December 17) drowning their sorrows after being told the 400-year-old landmark pub and hotel had ceased trading.

Up to 36 guests have been left with nowhere to stay and up to 100 people who had booked up for dinner on Christmas Day look set to go hungry.

Groups, businesses and individuals who have hired rooms will also have to go without their festive parties - after the venue shut its doors at 11am this morning, for what’s believed to be the first time in its long history.

Distraught staff, most of whom said they have not been paid for weeks, told the News their Christmasses have been ruined.

Barman Ben Griffiths said: “It’s terrible. It feels like a kick in the teeth.”

Acting manager Kieran Evans said: “It’s deflating the week before Christmas. Every one of us is in debt and some people are going to have nowhere to live next week.”

Head receptionist Michelle Magee said: “The team have been so loyal and we have all been let down and left with no money for Christmas. We’re gutted.”

Lorna Porter, who has worked at the Talbot for around eight years, said: “It’s disgusting. I’m in total shock. They’ve ruined everybody’s Christmas.”

Waitress Loretto Slater added: “It’s left us all completely desperate.”

Meanwhile, a party of theatre nurses and assistants from Russells Hall Hospital have been left almost £1,000 out of pocket after finding out their Christmas party in one of the hotel’s function rooms is now off the menu.

Organiser Samantha Wiggins said: “We’re really gutted. We’ve all bought new dresses and we’ve got nowhere to go.”

Talbot licensee Alan Whitehead - who is said to have spent thousands refurbishing the venue earlier this year after taking over on March 17 - is believed to have left the area.

A note on the front door of the hotel simply gives his contact details in Brighton and that of ESN solicitors in Birmingham.

When telephoned by the News, Mr Whitehead refused to comment.

But a spokesman for ESN said: “The tenant who owned the business was Mr Alan Whitehead trading as Midlands Hotels Ltd - and he has abandoned the premises and the business.”

Bosses at Birmingham based Westbourne Leisure Ltd, which owns the building, were not available for comment. Although now redundant staff say the company has been doing all it can to help reaccommodate the hotel guests left with nowhere to stay.