SOUTH Marston Hotel & Leisure Club will close on Sunday leaving 45 members of staff without a job.

Hundreds of guests and more than 1,000 leisure members will not be refunded for any bookings already made and employees will also not receive this month's wages.

But despite being distraught about the news, staff have vowed to make sure a bride-to-be's wedding goes ahead this weekend before the doors shut for good.

They will be accommodating more than 150 guests in the day and 170 in the evening as they do not want to let the couple down, otherwise they face having no wedding at all.

“This is people’s lives,” said one staff member.

“They are getting married and the staff will still work their wedding.

“The hotel was planned to shut on Friday but we said no, we wanted to work the wedding and we will not let them down.

“The bride-to-be is gutted. They were told they could go ahead with the wedding, but if they didn’t they won’t get their money back because there is no money.”

It was announced earlier this year the 60-bed hotel in Old Vicarage Lane would cease trading at the end of October, and staff had prepared to bring in people from the Job Centre to help find other jobs and prepare CVs.

But on Wednesday the staff were told the devastating and unexpected news.

“We were called into a meeting at 3pm to basically tell us the owner has decided to put the hotel in liquidation and as from Monday we are going into administration,” added another staff member, who has worked there for more than a decade.

“We are going through all different emotions; anger, sadness. People are unhappy and they have worked here a long time.

"People have families, mortgages and have booked holidays but have no spending money now.

“We need to come in Monday and we will be made redundant. All the assets in the hotel will be sold to pay all our creditors. After that I assume the place will be boarded up

“We can’t contact anyone because it is down to the auditors, it’s out of our hands. They are in control of the hotel now.”

The building is owned by multi-millionaire Paul Cripps, who staff have been told is in Bermuda.

The hotel will be given back to him to sell and potentially get planning permission to build homes.

A staff member added: “He has basically washed his hands of us.

"None of us are getting paid. We will get paid but will have to claim through the state for our wages that we’ve worked for, for our redundancy, for our lieu and for our holiday pay.

“But because BHS has gone into administration there are 11,000 people in front of us. A lot of staff will be left with no money for eight to 12 weeks.”

PCR Insolvency LLP have been advising the director of the company.

They say due to historic and other losses which have crystallised, the company has had no choice but to cease trading and seek a buyer of the disposable assets.

Sam Talby, of PCR (Bristol) LLP, said: “At this stage we are assessing the cash and asset value but think it unlikely that monies already paid in advance for rooms and functions in the hotel and for leisure centre memberships will be refunded. 

"On a positive note we are pleased that we have been able, with the support of the hotel’s employees, to honour the booking for a wedding reception being held this weekend.

"But sadly have had to inform all those with future bookings that the company will not be able to honour their bookings.

"We would ask that any parties interested in the company’s disposable assets to contact us.

"Further announcements will be made as and when it is appropriate to do so."

Did you have an event booked at the South Marston Hotel? Call the newsdesk on  01793 501800 or email ahicks@newswilts.co.uk

Blunsdon House Hotel are reaching out to couples who have booked weddings at the South Marston Hotel and now have no venue.

They will price match if proof of contracts can be produced.

"We will price match and honour it if we can accommodate the date," said wedding co-ordinator Grace Theobald.

"We are happy to squeeze in extra weddings if we can help."

Contact Grace on 01793 721701.