RNS Number:8738K
Thistle Hotels PLC
08 May 2003


8 May 2003

                       Thistle Hotels Plc ("the Company")

                    NOTIFICATION OF MAJOR INTEREST IN SHARES



On 1 May 2003, BIL International Limited ("BIL") announced that the offer (the "
Offer") made by HSBC Bank plc on behalf of BIL (UK) Limited ("BIL (UK)") for the
entire issued share capital of the Company not already owned by the BIL group
had been declared unconditional in all respects.  The Offer has been recommended
by the Company's board.

Further to that announcement, the Company received notifications from BIL on 2
and 7 May 2003 such that, as a result of valid acceptances having been received
in respect of a total of 58,934,437 ordinary shares in the Company as at 3.00pm
on 6 May 2003, BIL is interested in a total of 280,029,077 ordinary shares in
the Company.


Class of security:                            Ordinary shares of 25 13/20 pence

Name of person having a major interest:       BIL International Limited through 
                                              its wholly-owned subsidiaries BIL 
                                              (UK) and Ableton Holdings Limited

Date of notice to company:                    07/05/03

Date of change in interest:                   from 01/05/03 up to and including 
                                              06/05/03 as a result of 
                                              acceptances of the Offer

Names of registered holders and number of     Ableton Holdings Limited
shares held by each:                          221,094,639 ordinary shares

                                              BIL (UK) Limited
                                              1 (one) ordinary share

                                              Acceptances received from 
                                              shareholders 58,934,437 ordinary 
                                              shares

Change in the number of shares in which the   58,934,437
substantial shareholder is interested:

Relevant percentage of the issued class       12.19%
of security:

Total holding of the substantial shareholder  280,029,077
following this notification:

Total percentage holding of the substantial   57.93%
shareholder following this notification:

Name of contact and telephone number for      Ian Cattermole
queries:                                      020 7895 2000


In its notifications to the Company, BIL indicated that the terms of engagement
between BIL (UK) and Capita IRG Plc, in its capacity as receiving and escrow
agent for the purposes of the Offer, may constitute an agreement for the
purposes of section 204 of the Companies Act 1985 in relation to shares which
are the subject of acceptances of the Offer.


Submitted by Ian Cattermole, Company Secretary on behalf of Thistle Hotels Plc


Issued by:

Nick Denton, Hogarth Partnership Limited
Tel: 020 7357 9477


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