SALTERNS Harbourside Hotel, in Lilliput has changed hands for the third time in just two years.

MG Harbourside has now taken on the lease of the Salterns Way hotel after previous owner JJ Salterns Limited went into liquidation.

JJ Salterns Limited took over the running of the hotel in September 2003, from Bourne-mouth businessman Richard Carr, when director and public relations consultant Jane Jones bought Mr Carr's stake in the hotel for £1

At the time she described it as on the "up and up", but has now had to surrender the lease after two years and JJ Salterns Limited is in the hands of the liquidators.

Ms Jones said: "It's a very difficult place to keep your head above water. There's a lot of competition. I don't take things lightly and I'm disappointed but I've done my best."

Norman Gomes, one of the new directors of the hotel, said some changes had been made to the management structure but no job losses had been made.

He added: "I had been working at Salterns for five years and was general manager under Jane's administration. I left about five months ago and then I came back with MG Harbourside.

"We have reviewed prices so we have cheaper prices for food and drink in the bar and are working hard on the accommodation and the conference side of things

"We are honouring every contract and every booking that has been made."

First published: October 21