A NEWPORT couple whose June wedding reception was cancelled following the closure of a city hotel last week are celebrating after finding a new venue.

Emma Bishop, 27, and Joshua Wyatt, 26, were devastated to be told they had to find a new place to celebrate their nuptials on June 9 after The Kings Hotel closed last week.

But after they tried more than 40 other venues, Llanwern Golf Club was able to help them out.

The Crindau couple, who will get married at St John’s Church, Maindee, feared they would not be able to find a venue at such short notice and also worried they would lose deposits paid for a hog roast, but the golf club has allowed them to bring it with them.

Miss Bishop said: “We went to view it on Saturday and it’s absolutely fantastic.”

“I can’t wait, I’m dead excited now. It’s back on track and I can look forward tomywedding –mybig day.”

Llanwern Golf Club’s catering manager Nicola Rossiter said the venue had received calls from 12 other couples who had wedding receptions booked at The Kings Hotel and this was the third they had been able to help with.

She said: “We are just happy to take the stress off everybody to make sure that their day goes ahead as planned.”

The 200-year-old The Kings Hotel on High Street closed on January 3, blaming a “severe” downturn in trade in the past 12 months. Its 20 permanent staff are facing redundancy.

As yet, no information has been released about the future of the hotel.

Staff at Newport’s Holiday Inn offered to help anyone affected by the closure by offering rooms for events and wedding celebrations, which can be arranged by calling Marion Mohammed on 01633 412777.