Couple left shocked as Horsham hotel closure wrecks their wedding plans

Emilia Blaber and her fiance Ashley Theedom were due to wed at the Cisswood House Hotel at Lower Beeding next June and were staggered to learn it had closed.

“It has come as a real shock,” said Emilia.

The couple had paid a £1,000 deposit last August and were still making plans for their Big Day when they heard from a neighbour that the hotel had shut.

“I have no idea what’s going to happen now,” said Emilia. “I have been phoning and emailing them but I haven’t heard anything.

“I very much doubt that we are going to get our money back.”

Emilia and Ashley, who live in Thakeham, had planned to hold their wedding ceremony itself at the hotel with 50 guests, along with a reception.

Emilia said that they had budgeted to spend £10,000. “Now we’ve just got £9,000. We’re trying to find another venue but it’s really difficult.”

“The only other thing we have already booked is the registrar so we’re going to have to cancel that and I think there’s an extra charge for cancelling.”

Also disappointed are Emilia and Ashley’s daughters Alicia, eight, and two year-old Gracie who were to be flower girls at the wedding.