A HEREFORDSHIRE wedding venue that has angered couples by leaving them out of pocket has called in the police after receiving threats.

Lemore Manor, Eardisley, which went into voluntary liquidation last month, says its staff have had harassment and abuse.

The 17th-century manor house – trading as Fine Manor Events Limited – has allegedly failed to reimburse couples who booked weddings there before it called in specialist insolvency experts.

RELATED NEWS:

It led to an outcry in a Facebook group called Lemore Manor – Covid Affected Couples, which has more than 100 members.

Nicola Wright says she turned to the group when the company ignored her calls and emails. She claims she lost £14,000 when it went into liquidation.

Lemore Manor has declined to comment on the couples’ claims.

Hereford Times: Nicola Wright and David Bailey Nicola Wright and David Bailey

But a spokesman said staff there had been threatened by aggrieved customers.

“We take the welfare of our staff extremely seriously and threats to them will not be tolerated.

“Following several incidents of harassment and abuse, we have made a report to the police. We continue to assist them with their enquiries."

Miss Wright, who lives in Warwickshire, said couples due to marry at the manor house were sent an email from liquidators Opus Restructuring on October 6. It informed them that Fine Manor Events had begun voluntary liquidation.

Since then, she says, couples have been denied a refund of their wedding fees.

Miss Wright’s wedding was initially planned for April 2020 but it was postponed because of the pandemic. It was re-arranged for October 18, and she was five weeks away from her wedding date when she learned it was off.

She says the firm ignored calls and emails, so she began posting on social media.

Couples began to contact her to share their stories about their dissatisfaction with the firm.

"It's heart-breaking to learn of couples handing over their life savings," said Miss Wright.

Cathryn Lawrie, from South Wales, and her fiancé changed the date of their wedding from May 30, 2021, to later in 2022 because of the coronavirus pandemic.

They paid about £11,000 for venue fees, catering and room deposits, she said.

"We have lost a wedding which we have waited three years for and lost a considerable amount of money.

"Gutted and angry is an understatement," she said.

West Mercia Police confirmed that they are investigating threats made at Lemore Manor.

A spokesperson said: "At 3.40pm on Thursday, October 28, officers received a report of a women receiving threatening communications at a business premises in Eardisley, Hereford.

"Officers attended and enquiries are ongoing."

Opus Restructuring have not responded to request for comment.

Lemore Manor is now being run as a new business – More Escapes, which is a hotel that will also hold weddings.

The More Escapes website says: "We are pleased to offer free cancellation and a full refund, or you may prefer to move your booking to a date in the future with no administration fee up to 48 hours before your arrival date for total flexibility."