Disgraced Lovat manager calls police on former customers left out of pocket.

lovat: Couple out of pocket by £2k sent packing from Stuart Shearer’s new venue

Police were called to deal with disgruntled newlyweds, who were left out of pocket following the sudden closure of Perth’s Lovat Hotel, when they tried to speak to ex-manager Stuart Shearer at his new workplace.

Mr Shearer, who made headlines when he shut down the Glasgow Road venue without warning in January, has landed a new job at the helm of the Wheel Inn pub in Scone. The move has angered staff and trade union officials.

Last year, Shannon Allday and Shaun Campbell put down a deposit of nearly £2,000 for their wedding at the Lovat.

When the hotel closed, they lost their cash and Mr Shearer failed to return their calls or respond to emails.

The Dundee couple were forced to fund their wedding at the Mercure Hotel with an emergency online appeal.

Well-wishers raised the £2,000 target just days before the ceremony in February. Yesterday – Mr Shearer’s first day in charge at the Wheel Inn – they went to try to speak to him and ask about a refund on their deposit.

However, the couple were escorted off the premises by police. Shannon said: “We wanted to ask him what had happened to our money. We’d tried talking to him on the phone before, but he never got back to us. He told us he was an honest man, but didn’t have any money and couldn’t pay us back.”

She added: “He called the police on us. I couldn’t believe it when I saw two cars turn up with flashing lights. The police made him come out and speak to us, but he just said he couldn’t pay us back, it was nothing to do with him. And then he banned us from the pub.”

Police Scotland confirmed officers were called out, but made no arrests.

Mr Shearer refused to speak to The Courier about the incident. A member of staff said he was too busy to talk.

Mr Shearer will run the venue, under a new company TWI Scone, for owners Caledonian Heritable.

Unite Scotland spokesman Barry Simpson said: “We hope Caledonian Heritable think twice before going into business with such an unscrupulous employer.”

Mr Shearer was criticised for sacking staff with a terse redundancy letter.

The Lovat will reopen under new management this week.

The police made him come out and speak to us, but he just said he couldn’t pay us back, it was nothing to do with him. And then he banned us from the pub. SHANNON ALLDAY

Shaun and Shannon are all smiles despite having to resort to an emergency wedding fund appeal.