It may not have been the setting for Pretty Woman or Maid in Manhattan, but in recent years Rotherham’s largest independent hotel has proved to be the star of its own romantic blockbuster, with 17 members of staff meeting their perfect partner whilst working at the popular three star hotel.
Carlton Park Hotel has been shooting Cupid’s arrow since it first opened its doors in 1981 and hosts more than 80 weddings each year. But it’s behind the scenes where true love has blossomed and fairy tale matches have been made with many of its staff falling for its charms; meeting and eventually marrying ‘The One’ within the walls of the hotel.
Mark and Jessica Gaze
The independently-owned hotel has seen its fair share of movie worthy romantic moments, including three members of the same family finding their significant other at the hotel, long serving members of staff discovering true love… to barman Jamie Ashmore who met his fiancé during one of the hotel’s popular Ladies Night events.
Head Chef Mark Gaze and Food and Beverage staff member Jessica met at Carlton Park Hotel and even held their wedding at their workplace in 2011; his brothers, Assistant Manager Kevin Gaze and Trevor had previously followed in his footsteps. Perhaps few stories are more romantic than that of Reservation’s manager Leigh Valantine who has worked at the hotel since 1982. She met husband Richard more than 20 years ago and before tying the knot in front of family and friends at the hotel in 2013.
Jason and Wendy Gossop
Like all good romantic movies finding love at Carlton Park hasn’t been without its own drama and in 2008 when a small kitchen fire spread to the roof of the hotel, forcing a temporary closure Kelly and Oliver Dean who met whilst working as waiters were left in a desperate search for an alternative venue to make sure their dream day could go ahead as planned.
Jason Gossop, Sales Manager at Carlton Park said:
“Creating special romantic memories has always been our business, since the hotel first opened its doors nearly 35 years ago. Since that time Carlton Park has hosted nearly 3,000 weddings as well as witnessing countless first dates, proposals and of course weddings. It’s perhaps no surprise that when there’s so much romance in the air that it has regularly rubbed off on our members of staff.
“I even met my wife Wendy here in 2005 when I was the Meetings and Events manager and she worked as a receptionist. We married four years ago and I recently became a father for the first time.
“In most places of work, an office romance isn’t uncommon, but it’s incredible to think that so many members of our staff have met and married whilst working at Carlton Park. The hotel is regularly the host for romantic proposals in our restaurant, engagement celebrations, as well as helping happy couples to make their wedding day truly memorable.
Leigh and Richard Valantine
“Over the years, we have witnessed some truly unique and unusual wedding ceremonies from special intimate affairs to big fat gypsy weddings, Stars Wars themed ones and even a Lord of the Rings themed marriage, when the hotel became overrun with hobbits and various other creatures from Middle Earth! The theme and size of the wedding is never an issue. As long as they leave us with a smile on their faces and fantastic memories of their wedding day at Carlton Park Hotel then that is all that matters.”
Carlton Park is hosting three events for Valentine’s Day, commencing on Friday 12th February to Sunday 14th February. For further information, visit www.carltonparkhotel.com
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