A bride-to-be says she has been left feeling “devastated” after her wedding was cancelled for a third time following the last-minute closure of a Chorley hotel.

Best Western Park Hall Hotel in Charnock Richard unexpectedly closed its doors on Monday (7 February) and is no longer taking bookings on their website.

A sign outside the hotel says: “From now until further notice the hotel is closed. For further information please email: Parkhall72@gmail.com”.

It is not yet known why the hotel is closed or what it will be used as in the future but there are reports that it could be used as temporary accommodation.

The closure has left some people feeling worried about their upcoming weddings at the venue, with some being emailed and offered a full refund.

Kirsty Catterall, from Wigan, was meant to be getting married at the hotel in August but has now been offered a full refund from the hotel.

She heard the news on Monday (7 February) from family members.

Lancashire Telegraph: Kirsty Catterall with fiancé Andrew Porter Kirsty Catterall with fiancé Andrew Porter

Kirsty, 31, said: “I was at work and I had just been on my break. I had a load missed calls from family and I found out from them before the hotel.

“At around tea time I checked my emails and spotted that I had one from Park Hall offering me a refund – fingers crossed I will actually receive it.”

It’s the third time her wedding has been cancelled at the venue since 2020.

After hearing the news, Kirsty said she “cried all the way home” from work.

She said: “It’s just been a nightmare from start to finish – they have changed the date so many time and making me feel like I want to give up now.

“To have a wedding cancelled with the same venue three times is just a bit of a joke.

“I can’t get excited about my wedding anymore.”

Now, Kirsty will be looking elsewhere for venues but says she “doesn’t know where to begin” the search or when her wedding will be.

Andy Unsworth from Wigan found out the venue was closing via social media on Sunday evening (6 February).

He said: “We tried ringing but were quickly cut off so we went up to the venue for answers.

“We were hearing different reports and just couldn't get hold of anybody.”

He is due to get married in July 2023 and says he is unable to get his £600 deposit back as it could still potentially go ahead next year.

He said: “We were told that if they wanted to cancel they would have to ask for it in writing – but we are absolutely going to start looking elsewhere.

“It’s sickening and I’m just in shock because there was just no warning.

“We’re now struggling to find another venue for our original date as everywhere is booked.”

Michael Huckerby, director of The Lawrence Hotel in Padiham, wants to help couples who have been “let down” by Park Hall by offering them £1000 off their wedding.

He said: “People invest years of their life into planning a wedding and to have it pulled like that is really traumatic.

“When I heard the news I thought ‘what can I do?’.

 “If guests can show me a confirmation email from the hotel that they have cancelled on them then I can offer them £1000 off a wedding with us.

“Life is tough enough at the minute and the pandemic has shown us that we all need to help each other out.”

A spokesperson for Best Western Hotel Group said: "We are incredibly disappointed to hear the news coming from the Park Hall hotel.

"We were unaware of the situation and this is not the standard of guest experience we expect from the hotels we partner with.

"All hotels Best Western works with are independently owned and independently managed, so all operational decisions are taken by the hotel's owners and management team, not the brand.

"We are conducting a full investigation into the events of recent weeks and if necessary, we will terminate the hotel from brand.”

Councillor Alistair Bradley, Leader of Chorley Council, said: “Unfortunately, this is a classic example of the government’s uncoordinated approach to dealing with what is a really important issue.

“There doesn’t appear to be any foresight or planning and all we have had is a four line email that we came into at work on Monday outlining a proposal to utilise the hotel for temporary accommodation.

“We need to get more details of what the plans are and whether or not this is for asylum seekers but while we have continued to do our bit to support the relocation of communities in need it has to be done in a managed way and not just dumped on a community with no proper planning.

“We’ve raised this issue previously with the Secretary of State Priti Patel and she had reassured us that any such activity would be done in a managed and coordinated way but that seems to have been completely ignored.

“We will be contacting the Government straight away to find out exactly what’s happening and why we have not been involved until right at the last minute.

“I particularly feel for those who have been informed they no longer have a job or had functions booked at the hotel - if any of those people need support then I’d ask them to get in touch with us for help.”

Park Hall Hotel has been approached for comment.