Scots couples have had their wedding dreams shattered after the company behind Airth Castle Hotel went into liquidation.
The popular Stirling venue, operated by firm Airth Castle Hotel Limited, confirmed the news with 26 full-time staff and other part-time workers set to be made redundant.
Rumours of trouble at the castle began circulating on social media earlier this week, with many brides claiming they had been kept in the dark over the news.
Lisa Askot, who is due to get married to her partner Scott Thomson at the venue on April 14, told the Daily Record she found out the company had gone into liquidation after reading a post from another bride on Facebook.
The 28-year-old said: "I didn’t believe it at first but I read a post from someone on the Airth Castle Bride page. I couldn't get through to anyone at the hotel, so I called their sister hotel to confirm.
"We're just totally gutted. This is where we have always wanted to get married. It was our dream venue.
"It’s been really upsetting. I was in total disbelief which has caused a lot of anxiety.
"It has killed my excitement for a day I’ve been looking forward to for so long."
Lisa and Scott, 31, have already paid the hotel £2500 for their big day, with the final payment later this month.
Lisa added: "We were due to make the final amount in a fortnight, but to be honest I’d rather have it paid and have my venue than be in this situation."
Marc Joseph and Natalie Dick, from Stirling, were due to get married at the hotel in August.
After failing to get confirmation of the closure on the telephone, Marc drove to the venue and was shocked when their wedding coordinator confirmed the situation.
The 30-year-old said: "We needed to know what was happening so we drove over to ask. We met our wedding controller and he did look visibly upset at the situation. I asked about getting our deposit back but he said I would need to wait until I was contacted by the liquidators.
"He told me they are hoping to offer their sister venue the Glenbervie Hotel as an alternative but we are really nervous to put our trust in them.
"I asked to speak with one of the managers but nobody appeared."
Marc and Natalie had paid the hotel a £500 deposit and had already forked out thousands of pounds on other vendors for their big day.
Natalie, 27, said: "We’re absolutely gutted. It is so much stress to try to find a new venue within five months. We don’t trust the company anymore.
"It was the perfect venue for what we wanted. There is no other venue quite like it. We're just devastated."
The owners of the operating company said the decision to enter into voluntary liquidation was made as a result of the twin impact of the Covid pandemic and energy crisis.
The hotel building, which is owned by a separate company, is not at risk of being sold as a result of the liquidation, it has been stated.
Airth Castle Hotel and Spa has 125 rooms and suites, which are located in both the original Castle and the main hotel building.
A statement from Airth Castle Hotel Limited said: "The coronavirus pandemic had a major financial impact on the operating company, as the hotel was forced to close for an extended period.
"Then, as the energy crisis unfolded and supplier costs increased, the company's level of debt reached unmanageable levels and we took the reluctant decision to place the company into voluntary liquidation.
"Regretfully, around 26 full-time staff, together with a number of part-time staff, will be made redundant."
The venue remained a popular destination for various occasions across the region and those with bookings at the hotel reacted with shock on social media as the news broke on the liquidation.
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