A couple have been left "upset and angry" after being asked to fork out £1,000 to move their wedding due to the coronavirus crisis.

Paula Chappell and Calvin Grainger had spent more than a year planning their big day, and were due to marry at the popular East Quay Venue on Whitstable seafront on Thursday, June 4.

They had planned to have 70 guests at their summery nuptials, which were to include a barbecue on the beach.

But as weddings have been banned due to the Covid-19 outbreak, the couple have sadly been forced to cancel the ceremony.

Initially, Paula arranged to push the date back to a Friday in September.

"I rescheduled the whole wedding - spoke to all my suppliers, photographer - then two days later received an email saying 'all we will ask is you pay the additional venue hire'," said the 38-year-old, who owns the Chappell Contempoary Art Gallery in Oxford Street. "But that was an additional £2,100, not including VAT."

Paula then tried postponing the wedding until a Thursday next June, but was told she would still have to pay an extra £1,000 because prices at the venue were being increased for 2021.

"They said if you want to change it to the same time next year, the new price would be £3,000 instead of £2,150, not including VAT," she said.

"If I wasn’t happy paying that, I would have to either reschedule for a winter wedding at my original price, or I’d only get 50% of my money back.

"The owners are profiting from everyone’s misfortune. All other brides and venues I’ve spoken to are rearranging weddings free of charge.

"I spent a year planning my wedding and now I have to start all over again. It’s so upsetting and I’ve cried a lot over it."

Paula took to Facebook to share her disgust at the situation, and says the East Quay Venue has now offered her a full refund for her cancelled wedding.

"But I am now fighting for the rights of the other couples who should not be made to pay extra," she added. "I know they may be worried to rock the boat and then end up in the situation I’m in with no venue and no wedding.

"I get it's not the venue's fault the crisis has happened. But I really hope they issue a statement to say they've realised they messed up and they will honour the original selling price for the other couples, because it's just not fair.

"Weddings are expensive. To then have to find any additional money...you shouldn't have to, especially not now."

East Quay Venue says it is in the process of finding new dates for more than 65 weddings, while communicating with 50 other wedding parties with dates booked this year.

A spokesman said: "We have been touched by people's understanding during this time, and their acceptance of these events which are beyond all parties' control.

"We thank them for their patience during this busy time, whilst our team work hard to ensure that people still get the special day that they dreamed of. Deposits already paid will be honoured.

"We are asking for the couples to settle any difference in venue hire for their new date; if indeed there is any difference. Again, people have been very understanding of this - we have not had any other cancellation requests.

"We have waived all admin fees and bank holiday upgrade costs, as well as honouring current food and drink costings."

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