Just three days after the Government threw a £20billion lifeline to Britain’s beleaguered banks, RBS has come under fire for spending £150,000 on a party for staff at a five-star hotel.

Despite the bank being propped up by millions of taxpayers’ money at the moment, around 100 employees were flown in from 11 different countries to the two-day event, which was hosted by rugby star Rory Underwood and a top magician.

The freebie was held at the Grand Hotel in Eastbourne, East Sussex, where rooms cost £335 per night.

There the RBS staff enjoyed a free bar while the menu included sashimi salmon, beef wellington with Maderia jus and white chocolate.

Staff, who also enjoyed dance classes to Abba songs and a paper plane contest, took down company logos and removed branded items in a bid to keep the event quiet, The Sun reported.

A hotel worker said: ‘There were supposed to be 196 execs but they were so worried it would leak they cut it to 100, even though all rooms were paid for.’

A RBS spokeswoman said: ‘This was a working event to bring together our international team.’

The news comes after RBS chief executive Sir Fred Goodwin announced he was quitting the bank following the Government’s bail-out.

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