RNS Number:2636L
Thistle Hotels PLC
19 May 2003



THISTLE HOTELS PLC

19 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 a further notification from
BIL on 19 May 2003 such that, as a result of valid acceptances having been
received in respect of a total of 18,665,088 ordinary shares in the Company as
at 3.00pm on 16 May 2003, BIL is interested in a total of 349,620,069 ordinary
shares in the Company.

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


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


Date of notice to company:        19/05/03


Date of change in interest:       from 15/05/03 up to and including 16/
                                  05/03 as a result of acceptances of
                                  the Offer


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


                                  BIL (UK) Limited
                                  1 (one) ordinary share


                                  Acceptances received from
                                  shareholders
                                  128,525,429 ordinary shares


Change in the number of shares    18,665,088
in which the substantial
shareholder is interested:


Relevant percentage of the        3.87%
issued class of security:


Total holding of the substantial  349,620,069
shareholder following this
notification:


Total percentage holding of the   72.48%
substantial shareholder
following this notification:


Name of contact and telephone     Ian Cattermole
number for 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




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