An iconic Moray hotel has closed its doors after its owners were declared bankrupt – throwing scores of wedding plans into disarray.
Accountants arrived at the Mansion House Hotel and Country Club in Elgin and put a stop to trading yesterday.
Their visit came after a hearing which ruled in favour of HMRC at the town’s sheriff court last week.
Hotel owners David and Maria Baker, who live in Spain, fell foul of the tax man after they failed to pay a VAT bill worth £90,000.
The bankruptcy has left numerous weddings up in the air with Mothers’ Day events this weekend and hotel stays also cancelled.
But last night Mr Baker insisted he had been unable to attend the court and pay the bill, due to the severe weather cancelling flights.
Frustrated customers last night accused the owners of keeping them – and staff – in the dark, with many only finding out about the closure when rumours began circulating on social media.
Lhanbryde couple Lauren Fraser and her fiance Shaun Cruickshank paid their £650 deposit last Saturday, just a day after the court ruling.
Miss Fraser said: “We have still to be contacted and only found out through Facebook.
“We met with the events manager, if she knew she didn’t let on, but I don’t think she did to be honest as she was telling us how the building was due to be refurbished next week.
“It’s the staff and the people who are due to get married there in the next few weeks that I feel sorry for.
“I’m not sure about my fiance but if the hotel does reopen I’m not sure if I would be confident in still having the wedding there.”
Meanwhile, Elgin man Jimmy Bonella and his fiancee Charlen Harrold are worried they will lose at least £4,000, having poured their savings into arranging their dream day.
Mr Bonella said: “We’ve been told to apply to get our money back, but that could take years. We can’t afford to pay for another wedding, we just haven’t got the money.
“When we went to the hotel to find out what was happening the staff were devastated, just broken. They didn’t see it coming either.”
Staff at the hotel – including the 26-strong full-time team, some who have been there as long as 25 years, will find out their fate on Monday.
Glasgow-based accountants Wylie and Bisset pored through the venue’s books for much of yesterday, trying to work out if the hotel will be able to reopen next week.
The Bakers have owned the hotel since 2002, but claimed last night the business has after it was closed between 2011-13 to allow the council to build flood defences nearby.
Mr Baker said bookings had dropped by 20% a year since the closure.
He said: “The weddings have never recovered at the hotel since the flood works. It takes years to rebuild that confidence and start taking bookings but it has never happened, people have just moved on elsewhere.
“I tried to get to court last week to tell them I had £117,000 coming in to pay the bill but because of the weather I couldn’t get there. They just bankrupted me there and then, but it didn’t have to happen.
“I feel sorry for the staff, it’s a family that has been broken up, and for the people who have paid deposits. I’ve been told that will be sorted out by the receivers.”
Since news broke of the closure other hotels have come forward and offered to help any couple that has been affected.
Banff Springs has offered to honour deposits which have been already paid and has also said it will replicate existing wedding packages.
Owner Charles Milne said: “Obviously it will be a bit of extra business for us but it will hopefully mean people won’t lose out.”
Cullen Bay Hotel has also urged people affected to get in touch.
