Shropshire Star

Couple tell of plans to transform fire-hit Bridgnorth hotel into wedding venue

The couple behind the redevelopment of a fire-gutted hotel say they hope to create and "amazing" new venue as part of a £2.5 million scheme.

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Ben and Sarah Reeves of Ensarb Estates plan to turn The Mill at Alveley into a barn specifically for weddings.

Mr Reeves said: "The concept for re-building the existing hotel and creating a new wedding venue is derived from both the existing wooded river valley landscape setting.

"As an experienced operator of other private hotel and wedding venues – with many nationally recognized awards – our approach has a personal and unique character with each our venues adapting and responding sensitively to existing historic and interesting buildings and settings.

"Our experience over the last nine years has demonstrated that the modern couple are not looking for a traditional hotel or hall for their wedding celebration."

The couple are planning to re-design the Mill as a boutique hotel, with three single-story oak framed barns, capable of providing space for wedding parties of up to 175 people, plus accommodation of 32 rooms for wedding guests and staff.

There will also be three low-rise, timber-framed eco-buildings offering double bedrooms and family suites.

All of the buildings will be newly designed and built on the footprint of the former hotel and part of the existing car park.

The ground floor of the Allum Bridge Function Room is the only part of the original hotel building that can be saved for use in the new building and will be re-modelled to be in keeping with the new lodges.

The plan is that the venue will be for the exclusive use of the wedding party for the whole day, catering for up to 175 guests, rather than up to 550 as it had previously.

The redevelopment is set to cost £2.5million and will create 50 new jobs.

Mr Reeves added: "The development as planned will considerably decrease the volume of traffic in the area compared to its previous use, which we feel will enhance the rural nature of the location to the advantage for both our guests and our surrounding neighbourhood.

"We also have a policy of no fireworks or Chinese lanterns."

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