A bitter buffet row has erupted after a hotel claimed two newlyweds left their venue without paying the £1,550 food bill.
Management at Town House hotel in Durham have publicly named and shamed the couple, who tied the knot this week. But Clare Nattrass, 57, and Joanne Robinson, 49, say they will pay for the "miserable" wedding meal once the total has been reduced because they didn't get what they asked for.
They want £200 taken off because they say they didn't get the promised ribs or mini burgers as they also claim they weren't told about a corkage fee, the Mirror reports. The couple also said hotel staff removed the food just half an hour after putting it out with 30 guests forced to go hungry.
They say their celebration at Town House hotel in Durham were wrecked by the poor service - and refuse to pay up until the matter is resolved. However, the row has escalated as the women say they were forced to call police to mediate after feeling "threatened" by hotel staff who turned up at their home.
The venue launched into the couple on Facebook with a statement and a photo of the pair, who say it only encouraged a pile-on.
"Never in a million years did we think we would have to do this, but this is Joanne and Claire," the post read.
"Joanne and Claire think it's ok not to pay, in times as tough as they are for businesses, they've took the decision to rob our business. They requested to our staff time and time again if they could pay on checkout for their wedding as they don't get paid until this date.
"So we gave them the benefit of the doubt because we know times are hard. So they've held a wedding at our hotel let us rack up huge food costs and then leave without paying. I'm so disappointed that someone would do this, they haven't requested to pay in instalments when we've called them and asked them to pay they've just outright REFUSED."
The post attracted thousands of comments, with most criticising the newlyweds. But the pair have hit back and told MailOnline that the bill wasn't even due to be paid until later this week.
They say they have both been forced to delete their social media accounts after abuse caused by the hotel's statement become too much.
Joanne said: "The only parts of the bill we're refusing to pay is £200 for the buffet at night and the corkage for the wine we brought in - we were promised ribs and mini burgers and they didn't have either and the food was cleared away after half an hour with many of our guess not being fed.
"On Monday people from the hotel turned up at our flat - we were terrified and called the police to say we were under threat.
"The rest of the bill will be paid later this week once we've been paid. This was always the arrangement from day one."
Hotel owner Luke Hay, 30, dismissed the couple's complaints. He said they were aware the burgers and ribs were not going to be available - and stated the corkage fee was agreed before the day.
He added it worked out at £16 a head for a three-course meal and said no threats were made at the couple's home. Mr Hay told the publication that the hotel will waive the corkage "to put this behind us and move on as quickly as possible".
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