RNS No 6233f
THISTLE HOTELS PLC
26th January 1999

                     FULL YEAR TRADING UPDATE

     Unaudited trading results for the financial year ended 27
                          December, 1998
                                 
              Like for like room yield growth of 5.6%

Like for like *room yields grew by 5.6% for the 52 weeks ended  27
December,  1998.  A slight drop in occupancy from 72.3%  to  71.9%
was more than offset by a 6.1% increase in average room rates from
#64.88 to #68.87.

In  London room yields grew by 3.8%. Occupancy dropped from  78.9%
to   76.3%   reflecting   less  favourable   trading   conditions,
particularly in the last quarter, but average room rates increased
by 7.3% from #71.84 to #77.11.

The Company's Regional hotels performed strongly by contrast, with
like  for  like room yields up 10.3% driven by increased occupancy
from  62.5%  to 65.4% and 5.3% growth in average room  rates  from
#51.97  to  #54.75.  Hotels  in  Bristol,  Birmingham,  Liverpool,
Manchester, Newcastle and Glasgow performed particularly strongly.

These  results are in line with market expectations. They  reflect
some  slowing of the overall market as the second half progressed,
offset  by  the  increasing returns generated by  the  significant
ongoing investment program and the numerous initiatives which have
been implemented by the new senior management team.

*Hotels owned at 27 December 1998 (excluding Middlesbrough, which
is closed)


For further information, please contact:

Ian Burke    Thistle Hotels        0171 723 0101
Nick Denton  Hogarth Partnership   0171 357 9477


The unaudited trading results for the financial year ended 27
December, 1998 are as follows:
                                                  
                               Like for Like*           Total Group
                            1998   1997    %      1998    1997    %
                                         Change                  Change
LONDON                                            
                                                  
Room Nights Sold 000s       1,796  1,861  -3.5%   1,796   1,861  -3.5%
Available Room Nights 000s  2,355  2,357  -0.1%   2,355   2,357  -0.1%
Occupancy                   76.3%  78.9%  -3.3%   76.3%   78.9%  -3.3%
A.R.R. #                    77.11  71.84   7.3%   77.11   71.84   7.3%
Yield #                     58.83  56.68   3.8%   58.83   56.68   3.8%
Turnover #ms                188.1  182.1   3.3%   188.1   182.1   3.3%
                                                  
REGIONS                                           
                                                  
Room Nights Sold 000s       1,048  1,004   4.3%   1,371   1,470  -6.8%
Available Room Nights 000s  1,600  1,607  -0.4%   2,250   2,500 -10.0%
Occupancy                   65.4%  62.5%   4.6%   60.9%   58.8%   3.6%
A.R.R. #                    54.75  51.97   5.3%   51.16   46.88   9.1%
Yield #                     35.81  32.48  10.3%   31.16   27.57  13.0%
Turnover #ms                108.6  101.5   7.0%   134.3   137.7  -2.4%
                                                  
GROUP                                             
                                                  
Room Nights Sold 000s       2,844  2,865  -0.7%   3,167   3,331  -4.9%
Available Room Nights 000s  3,956  3,964  -0.2%   4,605   4,858  -5.2%
Occupancy                   71.9%  72.3%  -0.6%   68.8%   68.6%   0.3%
A.R.R. #                    68.87  64.88   6.1%   65.88   60.82   8.3%
Yield #                     49.52  46.91   5.6%   45.33   41.72   8.7%
Turnover #ms                296.7  283.6   4.6%   322.5   319.7   0.9%


*Hotels owned at 27 December 1998 (excluding Middlesbrough, which
is closed)

                                 
END

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