CUSTOMERS are worried about bookings at a popular venue after it suddenly ‘closed for refurbishment’.

The One Restaurant and Bar, formerly known as the Brinsop Pub, in Chorley Road, Westhoughton, has taken bookings for events at Christmas and next year.

But now customers who have paid deposits have found the venue closed when they have gone there in the hope of speaking to management.

Bride-to-be Candice Taylor-Wilson says she is desperately searching for a new wedding venue after fearing for her booking at the restaurant for her big day in May, 2020.

An automatic reply from one of the business’ email addresses said the restaurant was closed for “structural and cosmetic renovations”.

Candice, aged 32, from Atherton, said: “I have paid £1,500 to The One Restaurant & Bar and have sent out all the invitations with the venue and the details of the wedding breakfast and the menu on them, which have cost around £1,000.

“I drove up on Saturday and spoke to a cleaner and I asked her to get the manager on the phone. He told me it was closed for refurbishment but I said there was no signage. He said he would action a refund. I have rung and emailed the manager since but I still haven’t got the refund.

Rachael Harwood had already paid her deposit in October for a Christmas meal at The One restaurant along with 27 of her colleagues — a physiotherapy team at the Royal Bolton Hospital. Ms Harwood began to suspect there was a problem when she tried to organise another meal at the restaurant.

She said: “We started making enquiries last week and could not get an answer, we tried on the phone every day and we tried emailing, we got nothing back.”

Ms Harwood, from Edgworth, also visited the restaurant, but she arrived at the building to find that the signage had been removed and the restaurant closed.

She now fears that the group will not only be left without £270 in deposits, but without a Christmas party.

The Bolton News has tried to contact the owner of The One by phone and on a number of email addresses, as well as visiting the premises.

The only response received is the automatic email reply which states: “The business is currently closed for structural and cosmetic renovations. We hope to be open early 2020 with our boutique style hotel operation, wine bar and restaurant.

“We look forward to serving you.”