SITTINGBOURNE’S Coniston Hotel is closing down in the next few weeks leaving couples desperately looking for new wedding reception venues.

The hotel, in London Road, hit the national headlines in January 2003 after the Kent Messenger exclusively revealed plans to convert it into an induction centre for asylum seekers.

Furious residents managed to get the Government scheme overturned after a campaign which took them to 10 Downing Street with a petition containing thousands of signatures.

Among the brides who have received telephone calls from the hotel saying their receptions were cancelled is Kay Sharp who was due to hold her reception there on Easter Saturday.

Miss Sharp, of Kenilworth Court said: “I was absolutely speechless when the manager rang to say the hotel was closing down shortly. He would not say any more than that but we did get a refund. Fortunately the Shurland Hotel in Eastchurch has come up trumps because we will be holding our reception there instead but it has been extremely fraught trying to get things re-arranged.

“We knew the Coniston Hotel’s history before we booked our reception there but had no idea that it could be shut at any moment.”

The hotel refused to answer any questions and referred all calls to owners Accommodata which did not return our call. The property company bought the hotel and was due to allow asylum seekers there before the row blew up following the story in the KM.

Duncan Wetherall, manager of the Beaumont Guest House next door said: “The number of people staying there has gradually declined and the hotel has not done any marketing. We always knew it would be ‘when’ rather than ‘if’ if was closing down.”

Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Derek Wyatt said: “It has been rumoured to be closing for many months and the site is prime land for redevelopment.”