A North East wedding venue is to open a third site as it aims to bounce back from a year of cancellations.
The South Causey Inn, which is near Stanley in County Durham, put plans for a third venue on its site after the pandemic struck and the business had to cancel more than 400 scheduled weddings.
The new venue – which features a ceremony room, cocktail lounge, dining room, and a range of bedroom suites for guests – is to go ahead after the business secured a seven-figure Coronavirus Business Interruption Loan (CBIL) via Lloyds Bank. It will be called The Farmhouse.
The loan helped the business meet costs and overheads while it continued to focus on building the new wedding venue.
The Inn has been able to hold ceremonies since March and is hoping to hold around 250 ceremonies during the rest of the year.
Susan Moiser, director of South Causey Inn, said: “The pandemic has been extremely difficult for the wedding industry and for couples who have been forced to change plans for their special day.
“We saw all 400 of our bookings disrupted which was incredibly difficult for us. Luckily, we have a long-standing relationship with Lloyds Bank, and they were once again on hand to support us through this challenging period.
“For now, our main concern is the health and safety of our customers so we’ll continue to offer a reduced wedding service. If all goes smoothly, we’re hoping to offer the full wedding experience once more once restrictions further ease, and enjoy a strong second half of the year.”
William Harvey, relationship manager at Lloyds Bank, said: “The Moiser family showed exceptional resilience to withstand the brunt of the pandemic and we were happy to support them through this difficult period.”