‘Wedding venue closure has left us flabbergasted’

A couple who were due to hold their wedding reception at a luxury hotel said they were “flabbergasted” when emails arrived telling them and their guests that the venue would be going into liquidation.

Stapleford Park Hotel in Leicestershire has ceased trading with immediate effect and cancelled all its bookings.

Amie Henson and Dan Lee, who had paid a £3,000 deposit, found out that their booking had been cancelled on Wednesday.

The venue, which has hosted a number of celebrities including late US pop star Michael Jackson, said it was “sincerely sorry for the inconvenience caused”.

The message addressed from the hotel’s reception – seen by the BBC – added that “management have little option but to cease to trade with immediate effect”.

Mr Lee, 49, said: “I opened my emails and I was flabbergasted. I was just in shock.

“We’ve paid deposits for the car, the music, the DJ, the toastmaster, the church is booked and the honeymoon for the day after – it’s all very much geared towards that date.

“It’s a bit heartbreaking because the venue is the first thing you arrange and then everything comes after that.”

The couple, from Syston in Leicestershire, who are due to marry in May, say guests have also paid in full for 30 rooms at the hotel.

Ms Henson, 41, said she had tried to call the venue, near Melton Mowbray, to seek more information but there was no answer.

She added: “We’ve spent thousands [on the wedding]. There’s friends and relatives that have already pre-paid for the hotel so they’ve lost money too.

“I’m upset because we had our heart set on Stapleford; it was such a beautiful place and we both fell in love with it. It’s just sad.

“We’ve hopefully found [an alternative venue] we like that’s got a date available. I’m nervous but we’re hoping for a phone call back tomorrow.”

Leonard Curtis, a specialist insolvency practitioner, has been instructed to “commence liquidation proceedings”, an email sent to guests by the hotel said.

It added: “As a result of adverse trading conditions and the financial position of the operating company, Stapleford Park Limited, the hotel cannot continue to operate.

“Management have little option but to cease to trade the hotel with immediate effect. As a result, the hotel is closed and your booking cancelled.”

Customers were told representatives from Leonard Curtis company would be in touch to discuss details over their booking.

The BBC has contacted the insolvency firm for comment.