DESPITE pledges from its owners that it would not happen, a 36-bedroom Wickford Hotel appears to have closed its doors suddenly and is making a conversion to become a stopgap home for asylum seekers.

The news has shocked staff and customers of the Chichester Hotel – including Thurrock couples who have planned wedding and similar events there and who now appear to have lost all their money.

Stories appeared in recent weeks on various media platforms that hotel owners and brothers Zifhan and Imran Zeman were planning to shut down and open as an asylum centre. However, they responded and issued a statement saying "there are no plans to close anything" – but that appears to have been a false message.

Silence now surrounds what is happening at the venue. There is no indication on the hotel's website, Facebook page or social media platforms about a closure and the telephone remains unanswered in person with just a recording that says 'no messages can be accepted'.

One of the couples stunned by this week's events are  Amy and Dan who learned on Monday (11 July) that their wedding scheduled for the Chichester Hotel on 6 August cannot take place there.

And, after saving for three years for the event, they believe they will be unable to recover the £4,800 they have already paid for the big day.

Friends are rallying round for them and an alternative venue had been identified so a fundraising page has been set up to try and help them.

There are many other couples in similar situations and across the region a number of other wedding venues have offered their service for free or at vastly reduced rates.