A couple claim their wedding plans have been thrown into 'complete disarray' after the venue they booked has been taken over by the Home Office. Simon Pritchard and Lucy Campbell reserved the luxury hotel over a year ago for their wedding next month however they were left flabbergasted when they were told that the UK Government had taken it over.
The duo were informed of the last minute change of plans through an online video call with the hotel's wedding coordinator which left the bride Lucy, 28, stunned at the sudden change. They were informed by the coordinator of the take over of the Welsh hotel by the Home Office to house asylum seekers, reports Wales Online.
She said: “When we were told the venue was being cancelled, we were both completely gobsmacked.
"We woke the next morning hoping it was just a bad dream. We’re still a bit shocked.
"We’d been counting down the days for the wedding to happen. When they told us, we just couldn’t believe it, especially the reason they gave us.”
It is reported that all weddings and events have been cancelled at the hotel and that there are no rooms available until at least Spring 2023. The Home Office declined to comment on “operational arrangements” but stated it only used hotels as a “short-term solution” until “appropriate accommodation” was found.
Local politicians have reacted furiously to the plans from the Home Office, with Aberconwy MP Robin Millar expressing concern over the hotel's suitability for housing refugees. The member of parliament has contacted the Home Office and is in conversation with Councillor Charlie McCoubry, leader of Conwy Council, to see what arrangements are needed.
Aberconwy MS Janet Finch-Saunders said the decision had sparked local "anger". She has written to Home Secretary Suella Braverman to express "serious concerns" over the project and has demanded the decision be reversed.
Despite the anger from others on the move, Lucy states she doesn't blame the staff who had to break the terrible news to her but she did question if the hotel had no choice in the plans. She said: “I don’t blame the staff, the people who had to tell me. It was out of their hands.
"But I’m not sure how to take the claim that the hotel had no choice in the matter, that the Home Office simply demanded it.”
The couple have been together for over 10 years and in that time have had three children, who are all excited to see their parents tie the knot. However, the mother-of-three believes it might be a difficult task to find a new venue for their preferred date of December 10, given the looming deadline to find somewhere suitable.
Lucy said: “I don’t know why but I feel slightly embarrassed by what’s happened, even though it was completely beyond our control. I’m upset, of course, because we’d been looking forward to it so much: our two boys can’t wait for mum and dad to have the same surnames.
“At the moment I’m too stressed to get angry about what the hotel has done. If we find an alternative venue, and we’re happy with it, maybe that’s when I’ll start getting angry.
“We haven’t got much time to find somewhere suitable. I’ve had a look at one place, and while it was very nice, I don’t want to feel as if we have been left with just a single option."
The bride states she wishes she had a choice in variety of venues however she understands given the short notice and current busy wedding climate post pandemic she might be out of luck. Lucy added: "I would like a choice, if only to feel as if we haven’t been shoehorned into a venue.
“I imagine most would be very understanding and agree to a new date. But the wedding industry is still catching up from coronavirus and is very busy at the moment.
"Some might not have the availability. Finding a new date that everyone can agree on is likely to be very difficult.'
The 28-year-old also revealed the venue, which cannot be named for safety measures, offered them to return in 2023. However, she says she wouldn't be taking them up on the offer after their treatment, with all focus firmly on finding somewhere for the original date.
Lucy said: "They said we’d be welcome to return there in the New Year to celebrate our wedding but I’m not sure what this means.
“In any case, why would we want to do that? After what the hotel has done to us?
"When we booked it, they sold us on the place as a stunning new venue, that it was so luxurious and that we’d be one of the first to get married there. For now, all I can do is focus on finding a new venue.
"I really don’t want to have to postpone the wedding. I have to remember that getting married isn’t all about the venue.
"But when you’ve set your heart on a place for more than a year, it’s hard to start thinking about somewhere else at such short notice.”
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