A WEDDING venue and spa which opened only four years ago is set to be sold after it declared insolvency, leaving staff and engaged couples owed thousands of pounds.

Llanrhaeadr Springs Ltd, the company which owns the property between Denbigh and Ruthin, went into receivership in February with its only current director listed as Harry Barker.

The Grade II listed building, which formed part of Llanrhaeadr Hall and adjoins a care home, was converted in 2015 when the wedding venue, restaurant and spa opened.

The sale includes a one-bedroom dwelling in the former dovecote, hydro pool, sauna, steam room, six treatment rooms and dining-room, which were part of the venue which boomed in its first year-and-a-half.

However its fortunes changed in January 2017, according to former senior employees.

The former spa manager, who does not want to be named, said staff were left with unpaid wages and couples’ wedding plans ruined, after putting down deposits of between £1,500 and £3,000.

“The wedding venue and spa were doing really well and received stunning reviews,” the former spa manager said. “Until the bills started to pile up and we were losing revenue.

“Staff were committed until the very end, but now we feel helpless and cast aside.

”I’m owed £2,000 and other staff more.

”We have no peace of mind or closure.”

They added that one employee is owed about £9,000.

A former senior therapist at the spa said: “We have no idea where it all went wrong, it was a lovely business at a fantastic place. Then I was told it was becoming insolvent, just after I mortgaged my house.

“It has taken me into debt and I’m still owed £2,500.

“I’ve had to start my own therapy business and I’m slowly recovering.”

People took to TripAdvisor to express disappointment.

One said: “Wedding booked and deposit paid. Now closed down without notice. Deposit lost wedding ruined. The setting would have been perfect but sadly now not to be.”

“We booked our daughter’s wedding here and have lost thousands,” another said.

A third said: “Booked my daughters dream wedding at this beautiful venue, all plans going ahead only to learn the owner has left, leaving us in a lot of debt. Such a shame to see the venue all locked up.”

Creditors listed in the notice of receivership of Llanrhaeadr Springs Ltd include the Anwyl family, who formerly owned the premises.

Sale is by tender, through Jones Peckover, Denbigh, or Strutt and Parker, Chester, by May 29.

The guide price is said to be £700,000.

Harry Barker denied the staff claims, saying they did not give a true reflection of the overall situation.