Nightmare for wedding couples as Chorley hotel closes without warning

The owner of the four-star Oak Royal Hotel and Country Club in Withnell says he can no longer run the business as a hotel.

And now a planning application for ‘nine residential units’ has been sent to Chorley Council.

But couples who had booked the hotel for what should have been the happiest day of their lives say they had no idea and were not informed about what was happening

They fear they have lost thousands in cash already splashed out.

Lauren Martland, 25, and Daniel Thorogood, 28, of Lostock Hall, are among the victims.

Lauren, who works for LCC residential care homes as an auditor, said “I’ve still not heard anything.

“They put something out on their Facebook page the other day saying that there were plans to turn it into housing.

“I booked my wedding about three years in advance. I was originally supposed to get married in July this year. I signed another contract because they were taken over by another company. I’ve not had anything to tell me what is going on although I understand people have been furloughed.

“I’ve had my wedding booked since 2017, so you would think they could make a phone call to let people know what’s going on.”

Lauren said she only realised something was wrong when she saw the story in our sister paper the Lancashire Post.

“If I hadn’t see the article... There might be people out there who have no idea.”

She said organising of the wedding had been very difficult given the restrictions imposed on gatherings as a result of Covid this year.

“It’s been a nightmare from the start,” she said.

She said she last contacted the hotel in April.

“Up to then, they were really good,” she said. “It wasn’t until the last few months or so I was thinking I’d like to hear from them soon. It just started to panic me. It’s been so stressful.

“There have been days where I’ve had to take time off work. It’s been so stressful not knowing what’s going on, the uncertainty.”

Lauren said she contacted the Register Office who rang back a couple of weeks ago saying the hotel hadn’t renewed its licence for weddings.

She said she had started organising another wedding yet.

“I haven’t done anything at the moment – I feel I’m just starting from scratch.

“That (Oak Royal) was perfect, quite a good price and really close to where I live. Financially, I’m not in a position to be booking anything at the moment.”

She said it could be another two years before they get round to organising another wedding.

As for Daniel?

“I do feel it’s affected him. He does seem to be a bit down about it all, seeing the effect it’s had on me. The amount of times I’ve cried these last few weeks. It’s just been a nightmare.”

Debbie Leyden, 54, and fiance Jason Heyes, 48, of Accrington, were due to get married in July next year.

Debbie, who works for the NHS in north Bolton, said she only found out after being sent the newspaper story.

She said: “I am a bride to be who has been left without any communication from this hotel and now discover our wedding venue for next year is no longer.

“We have had our doubts for a few months and have been fobbed off with a couple of emails when I chased down the general manager saying they would let us know and being assured that it was still a going concern despite the website closing and there being no furniture in the hotel.

“To add insult to injury the article states that they knew they were in financial distress prior to Covid.

“They have taken our £500 deposit on February 18 this year knowing this. Myself and my fiance are devastated and also incredibly angry. We want to try to get our money back.”

The Bury Lane hotel, which is currently closed, launched in August 2015.

It is owned by entrepreneur Charles Downes who says he was already reviewing the hotel and golf course operation due to the financial situation prior to Covid-19.

Mr Downes, who comes from a farming background, launched the nine hole Oak Royal Golf and Country Club in 2007. It included a restaurant, cafe, clubhouse and fishing lakes. He was contacted for comment.