A COUPLE’S wedding plans lie in tatters as the stately home they booked for their ceremony appears to have been “abandoned”.
Lee Rowlinson and Rachael McBrien, who found Weston Hall empty when they turned up for a planning meeting recently, also look set to lose their £1,000 deposit.
The husband and wife-to-be, who are bringing up four children and have a fifth on the way, fear they may have to postpone their big day.
After booking a romantic English tea party-inspired reception at the Grade II listed 16th century building in November, they say they are “dismayed” that it appears abandoned and its phone line is dead.
With just 13 months to go until their wedding, Mr Rowlinson and Miss McBrien fear they will be unable to find another venue in time.
Miss McBrien said: “When we took our deposit in last November nothing was mentioned about there being any problems with the business.
“We were promised a receipt in the post, which we still haven’t received, and we’ve since been to the hall twice only to find it closed both times.
“We saved up for so long for that deposit and the thought of having to save up again is really worrying.” The couple had fallen in love with Weston Hall and were looking forward to “something different” for the theme of their second respective weddings.
Miss McBrien said: “We’ve bought everything for this wedding and now it looks like we’re going to have to postpone it until further notice.
“When I got an inkling of what was going on I just wanted to break down and cry. With being pregnant I’ve been very emotional and my children aren’t used to seeing me like this.” Weston Hall had re-opened in October after closing when its operating company, owned by businessman Steve Redford, went into liquidation.
Former head chef Seyed Deraviz, who likes to be known as Antonio Giovanni, stepped in and reinstated all 12 staff.
He had promised to refund 50 per cent of each deposit from couples who missed out on their big days due to the closure.
No-one from Weston Hall was contactable for comment.
