Fifteen couples have had their wedding dreams dashed after it was announced a second Kent hotel has suddenly cancelled bookings ahead of its closure.

People have been expressing their sadness after it was announced the bar, restaurant and functions at The Blue Pigeons hotel in Worth, near Deal, will "cease operation immediately".

It comes after KentOnline revealed yesterday that the Hadlow Manor Hotel in Tonbridge is closing this month, resulting in the cancellation of 37 weddings.

The Blue Pigeons said on its Facebook page: "It is with a heavy heart that we announce that The Blue Pigeons is being sold by the owner.

"The bar, restaurant and functions will cease operation immediately, and we will be running a small B&B service whilst it is being sold.

"We would like to take this opportunity to thank all our amazing staff many who have been with us for years and also all our loyal customers!!

"The Blue Pigeons has been such an important part of our family for over the past 11 years and we can’t thank you enough for your fantastic support!"

Among those who had been due to wed at The Blue Pigeons were Wayne Everard and Karyn Altree, of Broadstairs, with a date set for this July.

"We had booked The Blue Pigeons last April, and two couples are coming over for it from Australia and had already booked their flights," said Mr Everard.

The pair were informed of the closure by email last week, and Ms Altree straight away rang around looking for an alternative.

She contacted the Blazing Donkey in Ham, near Sandwich, and the booking - keeping to the original date - was confirmed the next day.

Mr Everard said: "At least The Blue Pigeons had the decency to tell us now. The Blazing Donkey has gone above and beyond and it's a lovely venue.

"We have managed to keep the same date so we are so pleased and relieved."

More than 200 people responded to the post sharing news of The Blue Pigeons' closure.

Among them, bride-to-be Emma Louise said: "Absolutely gutted!!! Had our wedding booked for August 19th…reading lots of lovely posts about weddings here. Best wishes for your future."

She has since found a place for August 19 at the Holiday Inn in Whitfield.

Others left goodwill messages for the Blue Pigeons, telling how they'd had their weddings there and praised the venue.

Carrie Anne wrote: "Oh I’m so so sad to hear this, I can’t believe it! I love this place so much."

Rebecca Jane Putland commented: "This is so sad! You guys do the best roast dinner around and all the food in general was amazing!"

Four couples who had booked The Blue Pigeons have now secured dates at the Blazing Donkey, along with one couple who had been due to wed at Hadlow Manor.

Richard Martin, co-owner of the Blazing Donkey, said: "We are doing our best to accommodate all those couples who have been left high and dry.

“I’m delighted to say that several have already been able to re-book with us and they are very relieved their wedding day can go ahead.

"We are lucky to be in a position to help all these couples and a gesture of goodwill we have agreed to price-match any arrangements that were already in place with The Blue Pigeons.”

KentOnline contacted The Blue Pigeons for comment but bosses would only confirm the number of weddings which have been cancelled.

The Blazing Donkey previously made headlines for turning down an offer of £1 million to use the premises to house asylum seekers for a year for the Home Office.

Mr Martin explained to KentOnline last November that it would have meant cancelling hundreds of weddings, which had been booked until 2025.

The Hadlow Manor Hotel is to become 12 homes and was set to shut in September. But that has been brought forward to Sunday, January 29, due to financial difficulties.

Sarah Nunn, from Loose near Maidstone, was meant to marry there in July and has 85 wedding guests including a brother flying in from Canada.

Because of that she needs to keep the original date and is now pinning her hopes on a venue in the Weald of Kent after making contact there.