STAFF working for a hotel group operating three sites in a Perthshire tourist town have been told they are to be sacked and evicted just days before Christmas.

The Castle Hotel Group, which also operates the Scotlands Spa and Atholl Palace hotels, reportedly told workers at the Fisher’s in Pitlochry this week that they are to be terminated without consultation and kicked out of staff accommodation on December 13. 

A letter shared online by Unite Hospitality was given to staff on Tuesday during a crisis meeting, with bosses claiming they have been given no choice.  

But the decision has been questioned by Unite Hospitality, which asked why workers are not being furloughed until March at minimal cost to the company. 

Representatives have also said many of those who have been sacked are workers from abroad, who may be left with nowhere to go after being asked to leave accommodation this month. 

The union added: “We call upon Castle Hotel Group to withdraw this callous action just two weeks before Christmas and use the Job Retention Scheme as intended.”

Hotel management have denied that staff will continue to be charged for accommodation, with bosses committing to assisting staff in getting housing and accessing welfare, adding that “no-one will be made homeless.” 

General manager Brian Wishart said all staff who have raised concerns about their well-being will be supported and team members could be housed temporarily in the hotel. 

He added: “We did hope to take the entire team with us through the winter, however we were denied grant aid. 

“The cost to furlough the entire team would have exceeded £100,000, this is not a cost the hotel could sustain without government assistance.”