Wedding bookings annulled as hotel takes in migrants

BRIDES-TO-BE have criticised a fourstar hotel that has cancelled weddings and school proms to take in migrants.

The Needham House Hotel, near the village of Little Wymondley in Hertfordshire, shut its doors this month when the Home Office block-booked it for 230 migrants.

The decision has infuriated families who had planned their weddings at the venue, some of which had already been pushed back by Covid, and now have to rearrange them at the last minute.

The Daily Telegraph understands that the manor house, near Hitchin, has cancelled 11 weddings and two proms since being booked indefinitely by the Government.

Deb Eaton, whose wedding was planned for Sept 29 at the hotel, with her flights and rooms already booked, said she “can’t believe it” upon being told of the cancellation. Rebecca Dunne, who had booked rooms for wedding accommodation in July, visited the hotel after not being notified about the cancellations. Staff told her they had “no idea when [the hotel] will open properly again”. Speaking about her wedding plans, Ms Dunne added: “So that’s it, gone. ”

Proms have also been cancelled for school leavers at John Henry Newman Catholic School, in Stevenage.

Elizabeth Dennis, the Labour leader of North Herts council, said she only learnt of the takeover on social media and the Home Office did not inform her. “To have these events cancelled at very short notice is appalling,” she said.

The Home Office said the demand for accommodation has put the asylum system under incredible strain, adding: “There are currently more than 51,000 asylum seekers in hotels costing the UK taxpayer £6million a days.”

Needham House Hotel was contacted for comment.