North East Derbyshire couple angry after Chesterfield venue cancels wedding reception 7 months before big day

Amanda Searle, 40 and Steven Rice, 46, from North Wingfield were originally supposed to get married in September 2020, but decided to postpone the ceremony until July this year when the pandemic first hit last April.

The couple who have been together for 10 years, have now been forced to move their wedding twice after Brampton Manor in Chesterfield cancelled their reception for later this year.

Amanda said she only found out their celebrations for July 3 had been cancelled after contacting the establishment last week to check arrangements were still in place.

Brampton Manor said they could no longer host her wedding reception as the venue plans to adapt its business in response to the Covid-19 pandemic and continue its ‘Beach Club’ when they reopen this summer, meaning the outdoor area will instead be used for al fresco dining and live music on Saturdays.

Amanda and Steven have now had to push back their nuptials until August 2022 and rearrange photographers, wedding cars and catering following the news.

"Everything is closed, there are no pubs open, I've been contacting people and no one has really responded to me”, she said.

"I just thought what are we going to do and I just panicked.”

Brampton Manor have apologised to the engaged couple and refunded their £150 deposit.

Amanda added: “I was more angry and frustrated that they'd left it seven months before the wedding and not let us know.

"If we had known before Christmas then I wouldn't have minded so much because pubs and wedding venue places would have been open and I could have arranged something better.

"I'm annoyed and it's very upsetting for us both because we were really looking forward to it.

"With my partner being unemployed, it is hard saving for a wedding as it is so it wasn't going to be a massive, lavish affair, it was just going to be a registrar wedding and a nice venue.”

Managing Director of Brampton Manor Craig Lynch said: "Due to the impact of Covid-19 businesses have had to adapt accordingly to survive and re-open.

"At Brampton Manor this involved using some of our large car park to ensure families and support bubbles could remain safely spaced in the summer when visiting us.

"We envisage this continuing this year whilst the vaccine is rolled out and felt it better to make this decision now rather than have people re-arranging celebrations at the last minute as so many couples have had to do.

"We are very sorry indeed that this has impacted Miss Searle like so many couples up and down the country.

"We hope that by the date of her wedding more than 50 people from different households are permitted to gather indoors for such celebrations and they can hold it as they envisage.

“We have had to take this difficult business decision in order that we are not in a position when we are permitted to re-open where the venue is booked privately for large celebrations we cannot hold due to government restrictions still being in place."

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