It was only when the bride's mother contacted The Angel Hotel in Midhurst to check details of a couple's wedding booking that she discovered it would have to be cancelled.
Now a disappointed Lindsay Kavanagh and her fiance Rob Polden have been left wondering when and if hotel staff planned to tell them the devastating news, while they frantically search for a new venue.
It would be a bitter blow for any bride, but 2
4-year-old Lindsay suffers from manic depression and it was the last thing she needed to hear.
"I was absolutely devastated," she said this week. "It has been a very difficult year because of the stress of changing jobs and this was the last thing we needed.
"To find out that the one thing I thought was going OK was suddenly gone was absolutely awful."
Lindsay, who was brought up in Stopham but settled in Bath after attending university there, added: "We even contacted the hotel a couple of months ago because we heard it was changing hands or building
work was taking place and we were told there was nothing happening that would affect our booking.
"It's a good thing Mum contacted the hotel because otherwise who knows when we would have found out."
Steve Kavanagh and Karen Banner booked their daughter's wedding at The Angel Hotel in Midhurst a year ago, on October 22, because Lindsay had her heart set on being married on October 31, 2009.
They paid their £500 deposit and began planning their 80-strong guest list.
Last month Karen rang the hotel for wedding information which she eventually picked up by email after computer problems last Thursday.
"I don't know if you are aware, but The Angel is under-going refurbishment, due to start any day and completing spring 2009," Jo Lowe from the hotel told her.
Downsizing meant the Angel would be able to cater for only 40 people in future, she said.
"I am so sorry. I have just taken over the role vacated by my colleague and have the unenviable task of breaking the bad news to people such as
yourselves."
"I couldn't believe it," said an angry Mr Kavanagh. "I would have thought the least they could have done was get the manager to telephone us to explain the situation.
"I accept these things happen, but it would have been nice to have been told."
Hotel co-owner Ian Webb said: "Since gaining planning permission in June 2007, the rear part of the Angel Hotel was always going to be converted into apartments.
"However, no announcement was made as to when, because this had not , and indeed still has not, been finalised.
"When Miss Kavanagh's mother phoned in concerning her daughter's wedding booked for October 2009, it was felt that although there are no
concrete plans to start the development before then, on balance it was better to let her know of the likelihood that it would have started.
"That way, at least there would be over 12 months for them to organise a suitable alternative.
"We are sorry for any distress that this may have caused and we will do all we can to help Miss Kavanagh find an alternative venue for their special day."
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