A northeast wedding venue’s decision to nearly triple its prices has been widely condemned by Chronicle readers.
Matfen Hall in Northumberland devastated a number of couples after telling them they would have to spend at least £ 20,000 to go on their date.
The venue recently acquired by the Walwick Estate Group has claimed to be unable to continue operating at a loss with the previously agreed fees.
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But their reasoning has earned them little sympathy from Northeastern residents, who left hundreds of comments criticizing the decision after The Chronicle reported on the couples Chris Marshall and Laura Davies and Zac Mavin and Beth Roberts who did Heartbreak after the unexpected price hike forced her to change her wedding plans.
Zac Mavin and Beth Roberts had nearly tripled their Matfen Hall wedding price
(Image: Submitted)
Rach Warley wrote, “I used to love a spa night here with my daughter, but since they have literally doubled their prices we can’t and will no longer.
“Pure greed. I have a beauty salon that was closed during lockdown, but I haven’t raised my prices.”
Claire Robinson added, “These poor couples. My heart goes out to you. I am also so sorry for the staff who work there as I cannot see a bright future in the hall until the current management / owners leave.
“Your reputation has been irreversibly damaged.”
Kay Robertson-Fenwick wrote, “How could anyone ever trust you with their wedding plans? The reputation ended with an ill-considered decision.”
Chris and his fiancée Laura are heartbroken after losing their dream wedding location
(Image: Submitted)
Other readers shared their happy memories of Matfen Hall and their own wedding anniversaries, and expressed their sadness over the current situation.
Rebecca Kinnersley said, “We got married there 5 years ago, back then it was 9,000. It’s crazy to see how much they expect from people.
Daniel Tolan added, “We got married there 7 years ago and everything was amazing, couldn’t do enough for us. The whole package was £ 6k. It’s a shame that new owners get greedy.
Naomi Alexandra Austin wrote, “My sister got married there in 2000 and it was one of the first weddings she’d ever hosted. It was a great day and it was a lot easier then.
“No recreational facilities and just the underground vault bar and I think I remember they got it for about £ 25,000! It’s so sad to see what happened … £ 20,000 just for a wedding location? “
Matfen Hall says it honored 119 weddings agreed by previous management that cost the hotel more than £ 1.2 million.
However, it is said that it cannot “lose” any further and that it is a “difficult decision” to make at a difficult time for the hospitality industry.
A spokesman said: “The hotel employs over 130 people and uses many local suppliers who trust in us.
“Our team takes care of our guests with passion and ensures that they have their dream wedding. However, it is not possible to assume these costs indefinitely and at the same time ensure that the Matfen Saal remains a place where people can relax and marriages can come for many years in the future.
“We understand that this will be disappointing for those affected by this difficult decision in what is now an extremely challenging time for the hospitality industry.
“The challenge of hosting weddings at a loss has been compounded by the huge labor shortage we are now experiencing in the UK hospitality industry.
“At the time we made our commitment, we couldn’t foresee the enormous additional burden this would put on our existing staff to cope with the volume of weddings we saw due to postponements and early cancellations.
“Every wedding is special and we have tried our best to avoid it. We have refunded all deposits and given everyone concerned more than nine months’ notice, but we are aware of the disappointment this has caused.”
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