The International of Brighton to close on June 30 after being bought by Chinese developers

ONE of Melbourne’s most popular wedding venues is shutting its doors after being bought by a Chinese developer and it’s left brides-to-be scrambling, including one who was in “meltdown mode” trying to find a new place to get married.

Natasha Marinelli, with fiancee Paul McEvoy, was left in the lurch with news the International of Brighton reception centre is closing later this year. Picture: James Ross

A TOP Brighton wedding venue is shutting its doors to likely make way for a housing development.

The International of Brighton reception centre, which has hosted thousands of weddings, formals and events over more than 25 years, was snapped up by Chinese developers for more than $20 million in December, leaving brides-to-be in search of a new venue.

ELSTERNWICK VENUE ORDERED TO PAY COMPO OVER ‘RUINED’ RECEPTION

MELBOURNE SUBURBS AND THEIR INTERNATIONAL NAMESAKES

Natasha Marinelli, of Bayswater, said she was left distraught and in “panic mode” after the venue manager phoned her 10 months prior to her wedding day to advise of the closure.

“We were booked in for September 15 this year and these days you need to book your wedding venue years in advance,” Ms Marinelli said.

81 Bay St, Brighton, known as the Brighton International, has hit the market with price hopes in excess of $15 million.

She said she was disappointed with how the reception handled her cancellation, even though she received her full deposit back.

“I was upset by the fact they didn’t honour holding weddings until the end of 2018 and they didn’t properly assist us as promised with finding another venue that was suitable,” she said.

Ms Marinelli said the venue had recommended Quat Quatta as an alternative, but was unsuitable because it couldn’t cater for her 200 guests.

“It was like they wiped their hands clean with helping me and this left me to go into meltdown mode and phone 40 venues with only three available,” she said.

She said she booked her wedding at Crown Promenade but felt saddened for other brides who had to find a venue in less than six months.

The venue’s sales manager Alastair Daw confirmed the reception would shut its doors on June 30.

Mr Daw said the venue’s closure was a devastating loss for the community.

“It’s very sad news for all of us here and for the people across Melbourne who have had their weddings and events here for more than 25 years,” he said.

He said venue staff had given ample notice to couples who booked in weddings after June 30 and helped them find other suitable venues.

The site in Bay St, Brighton.

Commercial real estate firm Savills state director Clinton Baxter, who handled the sale of the venue, told the Bayside Leader the 4079sq m site, would most likely become a residential development with a ground-floor retail precinct and basement carpark.

“The vendor has chosen to take advantage of the strong market for major suburban landholdings, but the business will continue trading as-is for the foreseeable future,” Mr Baxter said.

Amanda and Gary Tranotis at their wedding at the International of Brighton last year. Picture: Icon Photography Melbourne

Amanda Tranotis, who held her wedding at the venue in June last year, said she was saddened by its closure.

“I am so upset by this news but grateful to have such amazing memories,” Mrs Tranotis said.

More than 100 people took to Bayside Community Hub’s Facebook page to express their devastation about the venue’s closure.

Amy Jasper, who had her wedding there in 1995, said she was “very sad” to see the venue close.

“We had our reception there six weeks before my mother passed away ... all three of our children have had school events there too. It’s always been such a great venue,” Ms Jasper said.

Tiffany Podlena said: “We had our Year 12 formal there and school deb balls — lots of great memories.”

Bayside Council’s city planning and community services director Dr Hamish Reid said the council had not yet received any planning applications for the site.