Brides devastated by Glasgow wedding venue closure after VAT fraud arrests

Couples have been left without a venue and out of pocket for their big day, some of which are just weeks away.

It comes after The Forrest Group confirmed the Cranside Kitchen in Glasgow’s North Rotunda had shut after it took over the building.

Located near Finnieston next to the River Clyde, Cranside Kitchen hosted events including weddings.

The business has ceased trading after its parent company C&C Restaurant Group became the subject of fraud allegations.

The closure meant a number of brides across Glasgow were without a wedding venue and out of pocket after paying their deposits.

Jane Thomson’s big day was left in disarray. She was due to get married on October 20, 2023 – up until two weeks ago, she assumed that was still the case.

The 37-year-old said she and her photographer went to the venue on the week beginning August 21 to meet with the wedding planner.

“Nothing was said,” Ms Thomson told STV News.

“Then just a week later I turned up at Cranside for my menu tasting to locked doors.”

She then discovered the building had been sold when she looked it up on online.

The bride-to-be called The Forrest Group, who had taken over the building and confirmed they had decided to close.

“I then got a call from Cranside Kitchen telling me that they wouldn’t be able to host my wedding,” Ms Thomson said.

She said she was told she would get her deposit back, but only managed to secure it when she chased Cranside Kitchen.

“I would probably still be waiting if I hadn’t chased them,” she told STV News.

She added that the new venues she is considering have been “great”, saying that places are waving their guest limit and getting things moving quickly for her.

Ms Thomson said that The Forest Group offered to host the wedding at their Radisson hotel.

“They did offer to host but the numbers were too big, and we would’ve had to hold it in a public area which I didn’t want,” she said.

“The Forest Group have been helpful.”

Kymberley Young from Carluke had also planned to have her wedding at the venue in June 2025.

The 29-year-old and her fiancé had decided on Cranside Kitchen for their wedding in February, and had since visited the venue several times to show their parents.

However, last Friday, Ms Young was shocked when she saw a post on social media claiming the venue had closed.

“I wasn’t too worried at first,” she told STV News.

“I messaged the girl from the post and she told me she had been called. So I decided to wait and see but then I saw more people posting about it.”

Ms Young said that she was contacted on the Friday afternoon saying “they could only apologise”, to which the bride-to-be asked if there were plans to re-open.

“They offered us the Radisson for a venue but it’s not big enough, and I didn’t think they would give me the Sky Bar on a Friday night,” she said.

“I’m trying to find somewhere for a similar price which is hard. My head is just a bit fried from trying to find a new venue.”

Ms Young has yet to receive her £500 deposit back but told STV News she received another call from the Cranside Kitchen manager asking for her details so they could arrange a full refund.

An HMRC spokesperson said: “We can confirm we had officers in the Glasgow and East Kilbride area on April 14, 2023.

“One woman and three men were arrested and appeared at Glasgow Sheriff Court on April 17, 2023, where they were charged with VAT fraud.

“The four were released pending trial.”

A spokesperson for The Forrest Group told STV: “We are doing everything we can to assist couples whose wedding bookings have been impacted by Cranside Kitchen deciding to cease operations at the North Rotunda.

“We appreciate the inconvenience and stress is a huge factor for couples and while bookings were with the tenant, we want to do all we can to help.

“We are offering to accommodate bookings at Radisson Red where possible, and even seeking to assist further if the hotel isn’t suitable. Our team consistently go above and beyond the call of duty and we are pleased they’re doing so in these instances.

“Should any further couples need assistance with bookings with Cranside, please do feel free to contact Jill at Radisson Red Glasgow.”

C&C Restaurant Group has been contacted for comment.