A STRICT limit on the number of attendees has hampered the plans of dozens of dream days, but one wedding venue has vowed to fight on.

Woodhill Hall at Otterburn is one of many wedding venues throughout the district affected by the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.

Current Government-enforced rules on weddings restrict ceremonies to 15 guests.

And with further uncertainty ahead, one business owner claims the wedding and events business has become a ‘forgotten industry.’

Corrine Knight has been forced to alter the company’s unique selling point of weddings to now include dining.

“I have found it very frustrating,” she said. “Like most wedding venues, we know we can host ceremonies safely because we can put additional requirements in place to ensure a wedding can go smoothly.

“There is a way we would be able to cater for 30 people with safety measures in place where people can still have a good time.

“We think the government has treated the wedding and events industry extremely badly.

“It’s not just us it’s also the photographers, florists and cake makers, everyone who is a part of making a wedding happen, is affected and facing financial difficulty. “

Woodhill Hall received the Government’s business support grant at the beginning of lockdown, but Corrine blasted the Government for the lack of further support.

Faced with continued cancellations and financial loss the business will launch Woodhill Teepee Bar and Restaurant on Sunday, October 11.

Corrine, who has owned the business for 11 years, said: “We’re diversifying and we have taken the opportunity in lockdown to create a new social space and carried out some key renovations. We were constantly looking at how we can improve things.

“We’re excited about the new plans and we have got a great source of clientele who have always wanted to come back here.

Table bookings have since flooded in, Corrine said.

She explained: “We have a lot of experience with people working front of house and in similar settings.”

Head chef Paul Amer took over the Woodhill kitchen two years ago after previously working at the Marco Pierre White and 21 restaurant’s in Newcastle.

Weddings continue to take place at Woodhill, with a l5 guest limit, but the restaurant service will continue into the future.

Corrine said: “Weddings will always be our main core base, but we have had to diversify and offer the dining services as well for now.

“We need to see a road map of when weddings will get back to normal levels.”