Did Matt Hancock and his lover both stay in this hotel at Oxford G7 health summit? Luxury four-star retreat famed for romance is focus of attention after disgraced former minister's taxpayer-funded getaway with his mistress

A luxury hotel famed for romance was last night the focus of attention after Matt Hancock’s taxpayer-funded getaway with his mistress to the G7 health summit in Oxford.

Staff at the four-star Courtyard by Marriott said they had been sworn to secrecy about the former health secretary, who whisked Gina Coladangelo to the summit in the university city where he had first laid eyes on his lover as students two decades ago.

Mr Hancock, 42, left his wife and three children on the night of June 3 to stay in Oxford, taking his 43-year-old married aide with him – at taxpayers’ expense.

The job-ending clinch: Matt Hancock and his aide are caught on CCTV. The two had first met as students in Oxford

Extra-large double bed: One of the Marriott’s rooms. A king room with castle views costs £170 a night

Luxury: The Courtyard by Marriott is a four-star hotel, staff claim they were sworn to secrecy

It is not known if they shared a room in the canal-side hotel, which boasts rooftop views of Oxford Castle and the city’s ‘dreaming spires’.

A spokesman for the hotel told the Daily Mail last night: ‘We are not allowed to say anything about Matt Hancock. All of our staff have been told to say no comment.’

Two bar staff at the Jolly Farmers pub, 150 yards from the hotel, said they had seen Mr Hancock with his entourage walking back to their rooms after official meetings on June 3.

Barman Sam, 28, said: ‘I saw Matt Hancock walk past on Paradise Street towards the Courtyard with a big group of others. It was in the evening and they were all dressed in suits like they were coming back from an event.’

His colleague Martha, 22, added: ‘I saw lots of big cars with chauffeurs parked outside the Courtyard hotel where Matt Hancock was staying. They had blacked-out windows.’

Wining and dining: The hotel boasts a rooftop bar. When the hotel opened in 2019, general manager Kaushik Subramanian said: ‘Our rooftop terrace gives guests lovely views of Oxford Castle'

Travel website Booking.com says ‘couples particularly liked’ the hotel and gave it a 9.5 out of 10 rating.

A king room with castle views costs £170 a night.

When the hotel opened in 2019, general manager Kaushik Subramanian said: ‘Our rooftop terrace gives guests lovely views of Oxford Castle. The hotel is in a great location – it’s so close to the city but once you get outside it’s so quiet and quaint.’

It was reported at the weekend that Boris Johnson had no idea Mr Hancock had invited Mrs Coladangelo to the G7.

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