RNS Number:5987K
Thistle Hotels PLC
30 April 2003





                                                                   30 April 2003


                        THISTLE HOTELS PLC ("THISTLE")
                                 OFFER UPDATE


The Board of Thistle* notes today's announcement by BIL International Limited
("BIL") of an increased offer for the shares in Thistle it does not own.


The Board of Thistle* is consulting with its advisers to consider its response
and will make a further announcement shortly. In the meantime, the Board of
Thistle* recommends that shareholders take no action in relation to their
Thistle shares.


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.


END


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