The Crazy Bear hotel group has entered administration, forcing the immediate closure of its two UK venues and the cancellation of all bookings. Administrators Kiri Holland and Danny Dartnaill of BDO LLP announced on October 27 that the sites in Beaconsfield and Stadhampton would shut with immediate effect, with all event, room, spa and restaurant reservations cancelled.
Sudden closures at both sites
The news came just days after a new restaurant concept called Fable was launched at the 35-room Beaconsfield site, which opened in 2008 and includes a bar and outdoor swimming pool. The original Stadhampton hotel was founded by Jason Hunt in 1993 and has 23 bedrooms, two restaurants, a terrace, bar and events space for up to 250 people.
An anonymous employee said everyone at the Stadhampton branch lost their jobs on the day of the administration filing. They told the Oxford Mail: "A meeting was called and everyone was sent home. It was sudden, however we knew there had been some money problems in the last couple of weeks."
Staff describe shock and struggles
The employee described the company's original site as a "crazy place to work" with an "energy and vibe that was hard to find elsewhere". They added: "We definitely had some struggles, but the team were fantastic and we always stayed positive. I can imagine it's hard for everyone, especially this close to Christmas and in this economy job wise. I don't think we've had any time to process it all."
A statement on the Crazy Bear website reads: "Unfortunately, the closures have resulted in the cancellation of all event bookings, room, spa and restaurant reservations. Gift vouchers purchased either directly from the hotels or through third parties will no longer be valid for use. The joint administrators will be contacting affected customers to provide additional information specific to their circumstances."
Previous financial troubles
This is not the first time the hotel chain has faced financial pressure. The Crazy Bear also entered administration in December 2024, before being bought by its current directors in a £6.5million pre-pack deal.
Executive director Richard Booth and managing director Tom Etridge took over in January 2025, although Mr Etridge resigned as director of two of the firm's parent companies in September 2025, according to Companies House. The Express has contacted BDO LLP for further comment.
