Eastbourne hotel 'growing during recession'

A Sussex hotelier who has seen four recessions while working in the hotel industry said he was growing his business at a time when high streets are struggling to survive.

Neil Kirby, who owns the Langham Hotel in Eastbourne, said rising costs and tough competition had squeezed profits, but he had still been able to invest in a refurbishment.

He said: "Our profit has gone from 10p a pound to about 5p a pound."

"This is my fourth recession in the hotel business in my 45 years and we're still taking on people, just about, because we are growing our business."