Couple's £13k May wedding 'ruined' after venue closes

Pair now considering legal action in a bid to recoup the cash

- Thomas Cooper

A COUPLE's wedding plans are in tatters - after discovering their venue had closed for good.

Paul Owens, 61, and Lesley Smith, 65, from Cannock, have been left 'distraught' and possibly £13,000 out of pocket.

Paul and Lesley had booked Slaters Country Inn, in Baldwins Gate, 'almost immediately' after getting engaged in July 2024.

They were due to be wed there on May 29, spending £7,000 on the booking and £13,000 in total. Sixty guests were due to attend.

But Slaters Country Inn shut for good this week after going into liquidation. It had been trading for 35 years.

Paul said: "We bought the all-in-one wedding package at Slaters.

"We were due to have the ceremony there, with a three-course meal booked for the reception and an in-house DJ booked for the night.

"The package came with the bridal suite and we paid extra for access to the chapel. We have guests invited from all over the country who have booked time off work.

"We were only there on Sunday, January 18 having a meal with our family.