The Old Vicarage boutique hotel at Southwell says weddings can take place safely with them
A wedding venue that normally hosts about 100 ceremonies a year has just held its first since coronavirus forced it to close in March.
The lockdown came as The Old Vicarage boutique hotel at Southwell was preparing to re-open after being closed for three months to build a breathtaking new orangery.
Owner Suzanne Fitzpatrick said it had been heartbreaking for everyone involved.
She has had to postpone 70 weddings so far, with just one having taken place since government guidelines relaxed slightly to allow 30 guests.
The venue specialises in smaller weddings, and the couple had originally planned to have 60 guests, but had to halve their numbers to 30.
“It was so lovely, and the couple took it all in their stride,” Suzanne said.
“We are excited to be getting going, and looking forward to welcoming people.”
She now desperately hopes restrictions will be relaxed further to let wedding couples have more guests.
“I am really hoping they allow 50; that would be a big help,” she said.
Suzanne bought The Old Vicarage 14 years ago and has since created a venue that attracts wedding bookings from throughout the country.
As well as the new orangery to replace an old conservatory, the gardens have had a make-over, with old decking replaced by a a new patio.
The venue is in Southwell’s Westhorpe conservation area, so care has been taken to make all the changes sympathetically.
The hotel’s 20 staff have been furloughed, which Suzanne said had been a game-changer.
“I think the government has done a good job, and I am grateful, because without furlough the staff would have been made redundant.”
But they were all longing to get back to what they knew and loved doing, she said.
Measures to keep guests and staff safe include taking people’s temperature, keeping track-and-trace details, using masks or visors, supplying hand sanitiser, and spacing furniture to allow for social distancing.
“If I was asked to make a judgment call on whether I thought weddings could safely take place here, I would say yes, definitely,” she said.
Suzanne said she felt sorry for couples faced with not knowing when and if their dream day could happen
“You can go to bars and restaurants full of people, so why not to a wedding?”
