THE wedding plans of several couples have been thrown into disarray after they were told a popular reception venue had gone out of business.

Management from Pinchinthorpe Hall Country House Hotel contacted the couples with the news on Monday night.

The 17th Century country manor, in Pinchinthorpe, near Guisborough, east Cleveland, stands in ten acres of historic gardens in the shadow of Roseberry Topping.

Melissa Cartwright and her partner, Liam Mcready, have been desperately trying to arrange a new venue for their reception.

The teacher and chemical engineer, both 24, from Brotton, east Cleveland, face losing more than £1,000 they have paid towards the cost of the reception for their wedding in April.

Miss Cartwright said: “They left a message on my partner’s phone asking him to contact them and when we he did they just told him the hall had gone out of business.

“We have been planning our wedding for two years and booked the hall last February, so we were really shocked when we were told we needed to start looking for a new venue.

“The invites with all the details on were sent out to our 100 guests last week and we will find it difficult to find an alternative venue.

“And, unless we get our deposit and first payment back from the owner, we face losing more than £1,000, as well as the venue.”

Another couple facing the prospect of finding an alternative venue for their reception is Abigail Webster and Simon Hadfield, who were due to get married at the hall on August 6. The pair, who live in Guisborough, are struggling to find a replacement venue because the weekend is one of the busiest of the year.

Miss Webster, a 28-year-old teacher, said: “It is proving to be incredibly stressful trying to find a new venue.

“Some of the places we have tried have just laughed because that weekend is so popular.

“We booked the hall two years ago and it is devastating to be put in this position.

I am supposed to be looking for a dress at the minute, but I’m not sure it is worth it.”

No one was available for comment at Pinchinthorpe Hall.