Shropshire Star

Shropshire wedding venues trying to help out couples after hotel closure shock

Two Shropshire venues have been inundated with calls from distressed brides-to-be looking for alternative accommodation following the sudden closure of a popular wedding venue.

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The Mill Hotel in Alveley, near Bridgnorth, closed its doors on Friday without warning.

It has left couples who had booked the venue for their big day in dark about their arrangements.

Doors at The Mill, run by owners Elysian Care Ltd, were locked and the website was switched off despite the venue hosting as wedding fair last Sunday.

Ye Olde Punch Bowl, in Bridgnorth, and Leighton Hall, near Shrewsbury, have since received numerous calls from worried couples.

Adam Giles, owner of the Punch Bowl, said: "The first we knew was a sudden influx of phone calls from distressed brides-to-be and people who had booked their tribute nights and Christmas parties.

"We are always a very popular venue for weddings and they often used to compare our facilities with The Mill as we offer very similar packages.

"People often choose us for their event but late last week there was a mad rush for available dates in 2015 and 2016 weddings, and Christmas parties and events for this year too, as The Mill had allegedly closed its doors without warning."

The Punch Bowl is itself undergoing renovation to its wedding facilities with a £100,000 extension to its gardens, the creation of a lake, ornamental gardens and wedding guest terraces.

Wedding organisers at the Georgian mansion Leighton Hall, a private country residence between Shrewsbury and Telford, today called for couples who have their weddings planned in the near future to get in touch.

Amanda Round, of Leighton Hall Weddings, said: "We don't know what has happened at The Mill but it does seem that wedding deposits have not been refunded although the hotel has closed.

"We know that weddings are booked well in advance and venues across the region will be booked up.

"But as Leighton Hall is a part-time wedding venue we may be able to help those who are getting married very soon who need to make alternative arrangements."

The closure of The Mill came after serious financial concerns surfaced about the hotel's owner, Elysian Care Limited, which also operated care homes in the Midlands.

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