Anna Lace and her fiancé Lewis believed their relaxed, “festival‑style” reception for around 130 guests was booked in at the club for 8 August 2026, but say they found out it had been double-booked.
The couple say they have been left “devastated” after claiming they were “forced” to cancel their wedding reception at Penarth Lawn Tennis Club following what they describe as a double‑booking and a disputed jump in hire fees.
But the volunteer‑run club has spoken out, insisting it acted in good faith and did everything it could to help them.
Penarth Lawn Tennis Club says the dispute stems from an informal enquiry that was never turned into a formal booking, and that the couple ultimately walked away once full costs for a large wedding were explained.
Bride‑to‑be Anna claims they were told the hire fee would be around £140, plus bar staff costs, and that they would need to become members and take responsibility for cleaning – terms they accepted before going on to book their church, band, food trucks and stretch tent.
In a detailed Facebook post, Anna said they met the committee member several times at the club to discuss plans and later confirmed the date by text, adding: “For almost a year we believed that our wedding reception was due to take place at the club. At no stage were we told the date was unavailable or that another booking had priority.”
The couple say they only learned of a problem in early June 2026, when Lewis received a message while on his stag do saying the club had “double booked” the date.
Penarth Lawn Tennis Club say the initial approach in July 2025 was an informal enquiry made via a third party about potentially hiring the club on either 8 or 22 August 2026.
The couple were made aware of the booking terms and process on the club website, including a booking request form that needed to be completed, but the club says no booking form was ever received and no deposit or formal confirmation was made.
The club says it only became aware on 28 May 2026 that the couple believed they had booked the venue, by which time another member had already reserved 8 August for a graduation party following the standard procedure.
That member later agreed to move her event so the wedding could go ahead, the club says, but the couple then decided not to proceed when fees for a 130‑guest reception were set out, as large events incur substantial additional costs.
Committee member Rob Cunningham said the club “did everything in our power to help the couple with their big day” once the misunderstanding came to light.
He said the couple had initially been told the dates were available “at that moment” and were directed to complete the booking form to secure them, but that this step was never taken.
Messages with a long‑standing committee member covered guest numbers and entertainment, he said, but did not explicitly state the couple were confirming a booking or joining the club as members.
Mr Cunningham said the committee held an urgent meeting as soon as it realised the couple assumed they had the date, and that the member with the graduation party “willingly gave away the date” and rearranged her own celebration, saying she would not want to ruin the couple’s day.
He then contacted the groom to explain the work and cost involved in hosting a large wedding at a volunteer‑run sports club, including structures staying up for several days, additional opening and closing duties and waste management.
He said the club has previously tried to partner with wedding organisers so costs can be shared, but budget pressures have already led to the cancellation of the summer ball and other big events because they were losing money. After the full costs were explained, Rob said, the couple chose not to go ahead with the booking.
Anna and Lewis claim the price they were quoted for the hire was far higher than the informal figure first discussed.
Anna wrote: “So to summarise, our view is that the incompetence of one committee member, the lack of accountability afterwards and the attempt to charge us an extortionate, unreasonable fee has ruined our wedding.”
The couple say they are now struggling to find an alternative venue that can accommodate their guests and pre‑booked suppliers so close to the date, adding: “Lewis and I are devastated.”
