The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Engaged couples and organisers of events scramble for new venues
Scores of customers have been left heartbroken and “in the dark” over the hotel’s closure.
Bride-to-be Katie Richards was due to tie the knot with fiancé Colin Dick at the Treetops in August.
She said: “They emailed me at the end of last month saying it was going to be refurbished and would no longer be a Hilton.
“But they said there was no reason for concern and the wedding would be fine.
“I’ve paid everything upfront so I’m concerned I might have lost all my money – we have a fouryear-old son and scrimped and saved for the last five years to afford this wedding.
“I’m absolutely distraught by the news. I don’t know what’s happening.
“There will be plenty of other people with weddings booked too. It’s a disaster.”
Miss Richards has been able to move her big day
Darron Lornie and Gillian Watt paid a wedding deposit
to the Westhill Holiday Inn. Darron Lornie paid the hotel a deposit ahead of his wedding to fiancée Gillian Watt in July, but has since run into difficulties trying to contact the event organiser booked through the venue.
“My fiancée has sent emails and they’re bouncing back,” he said.“It’s just ridiculous, we’ve had no communication at all.”
The couple have since moved their special day to the Douglas Hotel.
Businessman Iain Gosling said he was in “total shock” at the news of the closure.
He has run a regular antiques fair at the hotel for the last 30 years but severed all ties with the venue yesterday.
Mr Gosling said: “I heard what was happening through the grapevine and cancelled everything.
“I can’t take a risk on this as I have a small business.
“Nobody has bothered to contact me, I’m totally devastated by this. The antiques fair has been an integral part of the city for a long time so I’d like to find another location.
“But just now, I’m in limbo.”
The future of Austin Crow’s Feel Like Dancing special needs discos was also left unclear following the announcement.
Jane Johnston, a friend of the Crow family, who helps organise the events, said: “The Treetops has been wonderful to us.
“I’ve been involved in the discos for about 15 years and I think the last 10 have been at the Treetops.
“It’s devastating as the staff were so handy and welcoming to the needs of our clientele, which includes people from 16 to 70 years old with all kinds of special needs.”
The group has been able to move its all of its bookings to the nearby Palm Court Hotel, with its Valentine’s Day disco taking place there from 6.30-9pm on Sunday.