A woman whose wedding can longer go ahead is confused as to why a hotel won't let her gift her deposit to another happy couple.

Allison Smith, from Sheerness, was due to get married at the Abbey Hotel on August 27, this year, but has had to cancel the occasion.

The 47-year-old cleaner said: "The wedding was originally booked back in 2020, just before lockdown for August 2021.

"But then because of lockdown, we had to cancel, which was fine, and rebooked it for this year, but now it is no longer going ahead due to other circumstances."

Alison paid the Minster-on-Sea venue £300 to secure the date.

She said: "When I cancelled the wedding I asked if it was refundable, because at the time I hadn't actually found my paperwork, and they said, no, which was fine.

"I totally understand why I couldn't get my money back because that is what a deposit is, but I asked if I could gift it on to another couple that would take that date and I was basically told no and I just don't understand why."

Allison says she accepts the venue has not breached any of its terms or conditions by refusing her request to transfer the wedding to another couple.

However she doesn't see why the hotel won't support the kind gesture.

She said: "It doesn't say anywhere on their terms and conditions about gifting, it does say about deposit not being refundable and I totally get that but I know that date is going be snapped up.

"So why can't they just be kind as well? It would make them look good as a business to do something like that.

"Being able to gift my deposit to another couple would bring something positive out of a bad situation, it would be a nice surprise for them,"

Abbey Hotel explained they operate a non-refundable scheme at the point of booking.

A spokesman said: "We do not offer deposit refunds, however if you pay over the deposit and the wedding is cancelled then any other money will be given back.

"It is a standard policy that you cannot gift a deposit onto someone else, it is not even a discussion point.

"The deposit is for your booking only, as soon as a booking is made there are lots of administration costs that come out of the payment, that is why it is not refunded and why it cannot be gifted.

"We have had to cancel things on her behalf and we are just trying to do our job and continue making a profit after the pandemic.

"We have explained that if Ms Smith would like to pay it forward she is more than welcome to pay for another deposit."