Bannatyne Group

The Bannatyne Hotel in Darlington is celebrating after hosting its first ‘restrictions free’ wedding since the pandemic.

Eddy Miller, 55, and Sue Crawford, 55, married on 30 July, surrounded by their friends and family.

The hotel, based on Southend Avenue, hosted the ceremony for 61 daytime guests and 83 evening guests. Staff were delighted to see guests able to dance and mingle with each other, in line with the easing of restrictions.

Eddy and Sue have known each other for more than three years and have been engaged for 18 months; they met on an online dating site and felt a spark instantly.

When Eddy knew he wanted to spend the rest of his life with Sue, he planned a special proposal at local beauty spot Aysgarth Falls.

Eddy said: “I proposed to Sue at Aysgarth Falls, as it is a beautiful place and I know it would make the occasion extra special. I said to her ‘let’s get a photo of you by the river’ and I pointed at something across the water. Sue was looking saying ‘I can’t see anything’ and when she turned around, I was on one knee with the ring in my hand.”

Eddy and Sue have two grown-up children each from previous marriages, and four grandchildren between them, with another on the way. The couple also have a pointer named Alfie.

The couple, who are both key workers and have worked throughout the pandemic, chose a natural wood theme for their wedding décor at the Bannatyne Hotel Darlington.

Sue said: “Our ceremony was beautiful, and the hotel made a special effort to ensure the whole place was exactly how we wanted it.

“I was so glad that we didn’t need to change our plans, and we all felt honoured to be the first ‘restrictions-free’ wedding.

“I’d like to say a huge ‘thank you’ to Jade and the team at the Bannatyne Hotel in Darlington for making our day so wonderful, we will be forever grateful.”

Jade MacGillivray, events and deputy general manager at the Bannatyne Hotel Darlington, said: “We were delighted to welcome Eddy and Sue to the hotel and to host their wedding celebration. The day was made even more special since it was the first ‘restrictions-free’ wedding we have hosted in such a long time.

“On behalf of the team here at the Bannatyne Hotel Darlington, I would like to wish Eddy and Sue the very best for their marriage and their future together.”

ENDS

NEWS RELEASE: ISSUED ON BEHALF OF BANNATYNE GROUP

CONTACT: Caroline Walker on 01325 363436

Notes to editors:

With 69 sites across the UK the Bannatyne Health Clubs brand is owned by Duncan Bannatyne OBE, who is also known for his appearances as a business angel on the BBC programme Dragons’ Den. The company has more than 210,000 members and employs more than 3,000 people.

The Bannatyne Health Clubs chain is now in its 22^nd year, it began in 1997 with the first club on Teesside. The idea was born following a skiing accident after which Chairman Duncan Bannatyne OBE needed regular exercise to recover. He could not find facilities locally and decided to use some of the proceeds from the sale of his previous business, Quality Care Homes plc, to establish the fitness chain.

Bannatyne Health Clubs can now be found in towns and cities throughout the UK, with a particularly strong presence near residential areas of large towns. Bannatyne’s places a strong emphasis on wellbeing and exercise forming a central part of living a healthy lifestyle of its members.

A large number of Bannatyne Health Clubs also feature a Bannatyne Spa, which offer spacious therapy rooms providing luxurious treatments for men and women including body massage, facials, manicures and hairdressing. There are currently 47 Bannatyne Spa sites across the UK.

In addition Duncan Bannatyne OBE owns and operates a number of successful businesses as part of the Bannatyne Group including:

Bannatyne Hotels Ltd, which operates Bannatyne Hotel incorporating Maxine’s Restaurant in Darlington, County Durham, The Bannatyne Spa Hotel in Hastings, Bannatyne’s Charlton House hotel in Shepton Mallet, Somerset and Bannatyne Hotel in Durham City.

www.bannatyne.co.uk