RNS Number:6688L
Thistle Hotels PLC
29 May 2003

                            

THISTLE HOTELS PLC

29 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 28 May 2003 such that, as a result of valid acceptances having been
received in respect of a total of 2,314,189 ordinary shares in the Company as at
3.00pm on 27 May 2003, BIL is interested in a total of 392,819,891 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:                           28/05/03

Date of change in interest:                          from 23/05/03 up to and including 27/05/03 as a
                                                     result of acceptances of the Offer

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

                                                     BIL (UK) Limited or persons who have accepted the
                                                     Offer

                                                     171,725,252 ordinary shares

Change in the number of shares in which the          2,314,189
substantial shareholder is interested:

Relevant percentage of the issued class              0.48%

of security:

Total holding of the substantial shareholder         392,819,891
following this notification:

Total percentage holding of the substantial          81.43%
shareholder following this notification:

Name of contact and telephone number for queries:    Ian Cattermole

                                                     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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