Both Birch hotels have gone into administration, shortly after launching the second site.

The Hertfordshire site in Cheshunt has closed, while the newer Selsdon site in South Croydon, which opened in July, remains open under the control of administrators.

Moorfields Advisory Limited was appointed as the Selsdon hotel administrator on November 17 after the property ran into problems arising from “cash constraints”, reports The Caterer.

Built around 220 rewilded land, the Selsdon site turned a Victorian country mansion into a 181-room hotel with a gym, treatment rooms, cycling and running tracks, as well as a bar and co-working space.

Its two restaurants, Vervian and Elodie, are overseen by the Michelin-starred chef Lee Westcott, with Elodie recently making it into the Michelin Guide.

The art deco lido is currently closed, and a Birch Selsdon member said that “the gardener is on reception” and that “they have let go of all zero hours people”.

The hotel remains open while administrators look for a buyer.

Three-year-old Birch Cheshunt has closed the rooms, leisure spaces and pool, its farm and three bars, as well as the sites two restaurants by Robin Gill.

An announcement on the Cheshunt site, which has been updated for the festive season, states: “We deeply regret to inform you that the owners of Birch Cheshunt Theobalds Park Op Co have placed the business into administration and the administrators Teneo, are closing with immediate effect.

“We are very sad to share this disappointing news and apologies for the obvious distress and disruption to our members, guests, suppliers and the great employees.”

In an Instagram post, Robin Gill said that the announcement had come as a “huge shock” to himself and the wider Birch team.

He added that the team had to “down tools with immediate effect”.

He went on to say that he believed the closure was due to a lack of funds needed to bring the properties back up to standard, adding: “We opened 3 times in mid lock down with minimum initial investment and I couldn’t be prouder to play a part in what was truly a game changer in the hotel and leisure world that snapped up some impressive awards and recognition.



“It was rough around the edges but we dug deep and planted, painted, built fires, fired crockery, created a bakery, farm, 2 wonderful restaurants and a farm to plate approach I had always dreamed of that is at its best right now with so much more to do.

“… we could all do with a hug right now and a rescue.”

Birch founder, Chris King, left Birch Community earlier this year before the second site opened.