West Dorset Breast Cancer Support Group hit by Riviera hotel revamp

2:00pm Tuesday 7th September 2010

By Arron Hendy

A BREAST cancer support group has been left without a venue for its upcoming get-together after a Weymouth hotel closed for a revamp.

The West Dorset Breast Cancer Support Group has emerged as the latest victims after the Riviera announced it was closing for refurbishment and cancelling wedding and event bookings.

The support group booked the Bowleaze hotel for 60 members to attend ‘pamper days’ and spend time swimming and having beauty treatments on October 11 and 12.

Three wedding couples and 13 other functions have been cancelled before Christmas with more people rearranging their events for next year.

Two couples appeared in the Echo describing how they had been left in the lurch but have now been overwhelmed by offers of help.

Belinda Ryan, committee member for the West Dorset Breast Cancer Support Group, said: “We were gutted.

“We’ve had it booked for a long time and I thought I was well in advance of myself getting it all booked and sorted out.

“We got a phone call to say they are shutting but they should not have been taking the bookings.”

Support groups from Dorchester, Bridport and Blandford are among those lined up for the pamper days.

Mrs Ryan said discussions with other venues are taking place to ensure they go ahead.

Offers of help flooded into the Echo when the two couples spoke about having their bookings cancelled with their wedding coming up.

Sarah Barzilay, 29, and her fiancé Mark Andeson, 37, had their wedding and reception booking cancelled. They hope to return to the Venue, formerly the hotel at the Portland Spa.

Sarah said: “It’s nice the way that people have come forward and want to help you.”

Charlie Connolly, 33, and Jay McGee, 40, of the Doves, Weymouth, are now having their reception at the Rembrandt after their wedding on October 30.

Miss Connolly said: “It’s really overwhelming and fantastic how people have come forward. It’s really quite touching.

* A TOTAL of 33 members of staff face an uncertain future when the Riviera Hotel closes from the end of September until May next year.

A Riviera Hotel spokesman said: “We fully appreciate the inconvenience caused by the decision to close the Riviera Hotel for refurbishment and sincerely apologise to all those affected.

“It affects the staff as well as those who had bookings. “All those affected by the work have received personal telephone calls and apologies from the hotel and we again reiterate that apology.

“In terms of the decision to close, up until August 25 – the date when the management were informed of the plans to close the hotel for refurbishment – it was very much business as usual.

“The process of informing people whose bookings were affected began immediately after the staff were told of the plans, who are currently under a period of collective consultation.

“Until August 25 it was hoped that the work could be carried out around events but it became clear it would be unfair to hold events of any type with the noise, disturbance and parts of the hotel closed off.

“Again we apologise for the inconvenience but once reopened the Riviera Hotel will be a fantastic asset for Weymouth.”