THE sudden closure of a dale wedding venue has left scores of brides and grooms in the lurch.
Many of the couples who had booked their weddings at Jersey Farm Hotel, in Barnard Castle, were informed by letter on Sunday, February 23, that the venue had been sold and the business would close in just three days.
Malcolm Catterson, who was due to marry his fiancee of eight years Angela Herring next month, described receiving the letter by courier as feeling like “the world had ended” .
He added: “I am cheesed off to put it lightly. We have guests coming from Scotland and all over. Luckily, we have sort of managed, we think, to find a new venue. The knock on from that is that we have to go back to the registrars – Angela in Richmond, and me in Darlington – to resubmit our intention to marry because the venue has changed.”
The letter from Jersey Farm Hotel stated: “The purchaser of the hotel is not acquiring the business. It is therefore not possible to honour the booking you have made for your wedding on Saturday, April 25, 2020, as the hotel will be closed down.”
The letter stated that the couple’s £1,000 deposit would be returned to them.
One wedding organiser, who did not want to be named but had several events planned at Jersey Farm Hotel this year, said: “It isn’t good. The brides should have been told before the hotel was sold.”
He added that the problem was compounded because of the huge number of people
who want to get married in 2020 because of the significance of the “double figures” .
He said: “It’s gone mental. Lots of people want to be married in 2020. People are having to book their weddings mid-week.”
This had an impact for many suppliers, such as entertainment providers and fireworks companies who had turned away other potential bookings because they were committed to events at Jersey Farm Hotel, he added.
However, many other venues in Teesdale are doing what they can to help couples who have found themselves without a venue for their wedding.
The head receptionist for The Morritt Hotel at Greta Bridge, Tessa Reynolds, said: “We have quite a few we have been able to help. We have a bride and groom in today – it is about trying to save their special day.”
Debrah Dhugga, chief operating officer for The Apartment Group, which has bought the hotel, said it was for the previous owner to comment on the cancelled events.
Jersey Farm Hotel’s former owner Mark Watson declined to speak to the Teesdale Mercury.
