RNS Number:5033K
Thistle Hotels PLC
29 April 2003



                                THISTLE HOTELS PLC ("THISTLE")
                     WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS AVAILABLE FOR THISTLE SHAREHOLDERS


The Board of Thistle* notes yesterday's announcement by BIL International
Limited ("BIL") confirming that Thistle shareholders who have already accepted
or who accept BIL's offer may withdraw their acceptances.


Thistle shareholders who have already validly accepted BIL's offer, and who now
wish to withdraw their acceptance, should call the Thistle Shareholder Helpline
on 0845 200 1863 (or +44 20 7864 9177 if calling from outside the UK) to request
a form of withdrawal.


The Board of Thistle urges Thistle shareholders to continue to reject BIL's
offer and, if they have already accepted, to withdraw their acceptance.


Enquiries:

Thistle Hotels Plc                                      Telephone: 020 7895 2304

Ian Burke, Chief Executive Officer

Merrill Lynch International                             Telephone: 020 7995 2000

Simon Mackenzie-Smith, Managing Director

Richard Nourse, Managing Director

Deutsche Bank                                           Telephone: 020 7545 8000

Charles Wilkinson, Managing Director

Financial Dynamics                                      Telephone: 020 7831 3113

Andrew Dowler

Ben Foster


* The Board of Thistle for these purposes comprises all of the directors of
Thistle other than Tan Sri Quek Leng Chan and Mr Arun Amarsi, who in view of
their positions as Chairman and CEO, respectively, of BIL have not participated
in the deliberations of the board in relation to BIL's offer to acquire all of
the shares in Thistle not already owned by BIL.


Merrill Lynch International and Deutsche Bank AG are acting for Thistle Hotels
Plc and for no-one else in connection with BIL's offer for Thistle Hotels Plc
and will not be responsible to anyone other than Thistle Hotels Plc for
providing the protections afforded to clients of Merrill Lynch International or
Deutsche Bank AG or for providing advice in relation to such offer.





                      This information is provided by RNS
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