Bride fears worst as wedding venue goes up for sale
A BRIDE forced to change her wedding date twice fears she could lose her venue after it was put up for sale.
Jess Maydew and Jason Tunnicliffe, from Repton, are due to get married at Newton Park Hotel, in Newton Solney, next year. But their plans have been thrown into uncertainty now the hotel is on the market for £2.2 million.
Miss Maydew, 24, said: “When we got the email from Newton Park about the hotel being up for sale, I honestly just didn’t know what to think.
“It’s difficult to plan a wedding during a pandemic, let alone maybe losing our venue too. We are overwhelmed and stressed.”
The Mercure Newton Park Hotel’s owner and operator Jupiter Hotels wants to “focus on other interests”.
It is understood the hotel could be adapted for residential, care or senior living accommodation.
The wedding venue is s still yet to reopen following the pandemic and, following ng news of the sale, hotel l staff have contacted all its couples.
Miss Maydew and Mr Tunnicliffe, 29, were due to get married on May 30, but it was postponed until October 24.
With Miss Maydew’s w’s maid of honour’s flight t from America cancelled, the he couple asked if the wedding could be moved to next June, which was granted.
They met at the Red Lion in Repton, where Miss Maydew worked. It was her night off and she got talking to Jason and his brother while she was waiting for a friend to arrive.
She said: “Jason and I instantly clicked. He asked me out and then two weeks or so later we went to Spain together. We proposed at the same time in Wales – it was a very cute moment.”
The pair got engaged in July 2019 and they loved the Newton Park Hotel. Miss Maydew said: “Everything about it was perfect for us. The staff were extremely welcoming and our wedding coordinator was so lovely.
“Our first date was May 30. My suppliers have all been amazing and know the venue well. Our families have been incredible.
“My maids of honour have been a part of all the planning and honestly there was little to no stress about the wedding until Covid hit.
“One of my maids of honour, Steph, lives in America so we were concerned about her travelling [during Covid]. We decided to postpone it to October 24, 2020. Newton Park were so good to us; there was no stress or pressure.
“Covid hasn’t gone so we asked Newton Park again to see if we could put a backup date on hold next year. They’ve been absolutely amazing.
“We have felt sad and stressed about all these postponed dates, but tried to remain positive and hopeful.
“Jason is really calm, patient and positive, so it helps to have such a supportive partner, as well as friends and family who have kept me thinking of all the positives. positives.”
The Jun June wedding date was thrown into question again when the couple rec received an email fr from the venue conf firming it was up for s sale.
She said: “When I s spoke to the venue, th they were reassurin ing, honest and said the there was still a lot they didn’ didn’t know.
“The lady said it takes a while for ho hotels to sell and she will answer our questions when they know more. We don’t know whether to look at other venues; we don’t know what’s going to happen financially.
“It’s impossible to know when we should even start planning again.
“The uncertainty of all of this has been the worst for us. All we know is we want to get married and want to share that big day with all the people we love.
“I feel for all the other couples and also the staff.”
A spokesman for Jupiter Hotels said: “We can confirm The Mercure Burton Upon Trent Newton Park Hotel will have new owners in the foreseeable future.
“The team are in the process of contacting all guests who may be affected by future bookings at the hotel.”
We have felt stressed about all these postponed dates but tried to remain positive Jess Maydew