THE iconic Floatel is Northwich’s latest victim of the credit crunch.

The floating hotel on the River Weaver, off London Road, has shut after owners the Real Hotel Company Ltd went into administration.

Slow trading during the last quarter of 2008 and continuing into the New Year resulted in the company taking the action.

The closure leaves Northwich without a hotel in the town centre.

In total the administrators shut four hotels across the country – including the Floatel – but the company declined to tell the Guardian how many jobs had been lost at the London Road hotel, which has been open since the late 1980s.

Vision The site of the hotel has been earmarked as an important part of the Northwich Vision project as the town seeks to rebuild itself on the riverfront.

As a result British Waterways is to play an important role in the regeneration of the marina area.

A British Waterways spokesman confirmed they were aware that the owner, Real Hotel group, had gone into administration and were working with them regarding the site.

“We are currently in discussion with the group – and the administrator – to establish their future intentions.

“Although this is a sign of the current difficult economic climate,