A bride has shared her anger and frustration after being jilted by her wedding venue just three months before her big day.
Elm Farm Country House has offered its 'profuse apologies' as it prepares to close between April 24 and July 16 due to a major structural fault found during a recent building inspection.
The bride-to-be was due to get married at the Horsham St Faith venue in June - her fourth wedding date after two had to be rearranged due to the pandemic.
She was told about the work via email on Friday, March 24, forcing her to either rearrange or cancel her wedding - for 50 people at the ceremony and 100 people for the reception - at the 17th-century Grade II-listed venue.
Based in Norfolk but not wanting to be named, the bride said the venue "didn't bother to call" to give the couple the devastating news that their wedding hung in the balance, which was set to cost £1,900 including the hire of accommodation.
She was then told to contact the venue directly to rearrange her wedding date or receive a refund, which has since landed in her account.
After posting the email in a Facebook group to inform other brides, she was asked by Elm Farm to remove it.
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The bride said: "They did not give us a good impression.
"How they have dealt with this has been ridiculous.
"I was so annoyed because we had a meeting with them a couple of weeks ago to go through our day. They must have known.
"I feel they're trying to keep this quiet.
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"The manager Sally was not very polite. She offered no apology for the cancellation or any grief this has caused.
"We're stressed to high heaven trying to arrange something else.
"It feels like Elm Farm have been so uncaring towards people whose special day is ruined and struggling to find something else.
"I'm very angry and feel there was no sympathy, regard or compassion for how they're feeling.
"There is no compassion there at all."
She added that she has now rearranged her ceremony to be held at Norwich Castle but her reception will be held in Great Yarmouth - and has had to fork out £400 for a coach to transport her guests.
Elm Farm would not offer any compensation in goodwill for the couple's inconvenience.
The Norwich Road venue, which operates as a hotel and restaurant, has clarified the situation after being contacted by this newspaper.
Sally Williams, owner of Elm Farm, said: "Following the discovery of a developing underfloor structural fault and having taken advice from building professionals and our insurers, the decision was recently taken to temporarily close Elm Farm Country House.
"We are aware of the disappointing impact this unavoidable closure is having on our clients who have functions booked within these dates and we offer them our profuse apologies.
"We advised our clients of the closure by issuing a statement to all affected parties and invited them to contact us to discuss all factors and options.
"We are very grateful to those clients who have decided to retain their bookings with us and have rescheduled their dates."
Ms Williams took over the venue - which is also often used for wakes due to its proximity to the village's crematorium - in May 2007.
She continued: "At such a difficult and stressful time, it is understandable that rumours can abound.
"We would emphasise that our actions have been honest and as rapid as possible.
"Once again, we apologise for the distress this situation has caused and thank our clients for their gracious understanding."
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