A COUPLE’S wedding dream was shattered when their venue was destroyed by fire - but in the final hour a newly-opened boutique restaurant stepped in to save their big day.

John and Lisa Close, from Manchester, said Crathorne Hall was a special location for them because it was the first place they stayed as a couple and the first hotel they stayed in after getting engaged – so to get married there would be the icing on the cake.

But just 12 days before their big day – which until then had been completely stress-free – Crathorne Hall was engulfed in flames when an electric fly killer allowed smouldering flies to drop onto flammable material below it.

Mr Close said after being told of the fire the couple were distraught.

“Lisa was in a state, we were both gutted," he said.

“We are both from Manchester and don’t know the North-East or North Yorkshire at all – Crathorne Hall was special which is why we chose it but we didn’t know any other venues.

“We were tied to the area because our banns had already been read at St Joseph’s Church in Stokesley and were told we could not marry at another church on that date – and changing the date wasn’t an option because we had guests coming from the US and Ireland.”

The couple were introduced to Middleton Lodge, near Scotch Corner, even though during the day the only available part of the estate was the newly-opened Coach House restaurant – which the firm do not intend to use as a wedding venue.

Mr Close said: “The team, especially Anna Russell, Glen Taylor and James Allison, were amazing.

“They went above and beyond what we expected - they did a fantastic job and on the day we didn’t think about Crathorne Hall at all.”

Ms Russell, wedding planner at Middleton Lodge, said: “Lisa and John were very upset and overwhelmed at first.

“It was a drastic change of venue from a grand hall to the newly converted Coach House restaurant that had only been open two weeks – but we built up an instant friendship and they put their trust in us to change their plans to create a completely different theme wedding that definitely delivered.

“It was an amazing experience for all the Middleton Lodge team, we were so pleased for the new Mr and Mrs Close - they really do deserve a long and happy marriage together.”

Crathorne Hall Hotel will be re-opening for business on Monday, November 10 following the fire.