A family-run hotel and wedding venue in Kent, which once snubbed a £1m deal to house asylum seekers, has gone bust after 36 years. The Blazing Donkey in Sandwich, Kent, is just a few miles from the Channel beaches where a record-breaking number of small boats have arrived this year alone.

Now just four years short of being under the ownership of Richard and Sherry Marti, the 22-bedroom country hotel has been forced to call in administrators. Crumbling amid financial pressures and personal tragedy, the family acknowledged the "disappointment" it would have caused for couples preparing to walk down the aisle. The letter at The Blazing Donkey said: "The family acknowledge the disappointment this may cause to couples affected by these circumstances, and extends their deepest regret that such action has so sadly become necessary."

No details have yet been released on how payments and deposits will be handled.

It also reveals how the Martins' lives changed "irreversibly" in January when co-director Mrs Martin was admitted to hospital with an aggressive brain stem cancer, she died aged 63.

The statement reads: "Immediate action was taken to close all non-event operations so that the team that remained could focus on looking after wedding clients that had already booked and ensure that every wedding and event due to take place last year and this year could proceed as planned.

"Since the couple withdrew from the business, the team that remained in post were able to deliver all events.

"However, despite significant and sustained cash injections from the couple's personal resources, without the wider core business operating alongside, and with overheads remaining high, it has become impossible to continue hosting these events and operating the business in any form.

"The family acknowledge the disappointment this may cause to couples affected by these circumstances and extends their deepest regret that such action has to sadly become necessary."

Just three years ago Mr Martin revealed he was offered £1,080,000 and a guarantee of 100% occupancy for 12 months at the country hotel, which had recently won a prestigious AA rosette for its food and service.

At the time Mr Martin said the the offer wasn't even considered with the couple being "repulsed" by the idea.

He said: "We spent 30 years building up the business but the money doesn't come into it,' he said at the time. "We didn't consider the offer at all as our reputation would have been shattered overnight.

"Quite honestly my wife and I felt repulsed and very angry that they would think I would ever consider it."

The Blazing Donkey is said to have hosted over 2,000 weddings since 1999.

Becca Lee, who was to get married at the venue on October 11 has called the hotel's closuere a "nightmare".

She said: "It's supposedly the happiest day of your life, that most people have been dreaming and saving for a long time, so to have that sort of rug pulled out from you is a lot to process."

Also left dissapointed by the news is Kenna Nicholson who was due to have her dream wedding on Friday after spending more than £12,000, but was warned this week that she would be lucky to receive any money back.

"We're devastated - our whole day is just gone,' said the bride-to-be, adding: 'I sympathise with the owner, but the way they've gone about it is disgusting", said Kenna.

As of September 8 30, 164 people had crossed the Channel in small boats. This is an increase from 22,440 people for the same period in 2024. More than 180,000 people have arrived by small boat since the first figures were recorded in 2018.