A WEDDING venue, which was forced to shut for breaching Covid rules, has applied to extend part of its premises.

Gomersal Lodge Hotel in Gomersal was one of three venues closed down in October 2020 after investigations revealed they had been holding weddings for up to 150 people – against the Covid restrictions at the time.

Covid-19 safety measures were not being followed, with a lack of social distancing – and they were directed by Kirklees Council to remain shut until improvements were made.

Now the owners have applied to alter and extend the coach house at the hotel, which is currently in use as toilets and a storeroom, making the building 30 per cent larger in terms of volume.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: Gomersal Lodge HotelGomersal Lodge Hotel

It would create eight toilets for the wedding and events marquee as well as an office.

In a design and access statement accompanying the application states: “The proposed building is designed to be complementary to the existing Victorian property and existing coach house.

“The extension appears secondary to the original host building by being set back from the front elevation and by reducing the height of the eaves and ridge."

Original features have been continued on to the extension to appear sympathetic to the surroundings, including stone heads, surrounds, cills, and corbels.

“Original features will remain where possible – including all openings at ground floor level already in existence," the application says. 

"The large, infilled opening to the front of the building will be returned to appear as gatehouse timber doors.”

It would also improve the accessibility of the events venue by creating a wheelchair-accessible WC.

Bradford Telegraph and Argus: The permanent marquee at Gomersal Lodge HotelThe permanent marquee at Gomersal Lodge Hotel

In 2021, the Telegraph & Argus reported that the hotel had successfully been granted a certificate of lawfulness for the large marquee in its grounds, which is used to host events and wedding receptions.

The certificate means they have a legal right of use for the land, having established that there has been a marquee on the land for more than ten years.

Hotel owner Nasir Hussain provided a statement as part of the application to say that a marquee was first put up in May 2009 to be used to host events and weddings. He also provided a copy of two five-year lease agreements for a third party to operate events and weddings from the structure, with the first dated around the same time.

A target date for Kirklees Council planners to make a decision is in December.