Marriage is off the menu at mansion

A fire-ravaged Bewdley mansion will no longer host wedding ceremonies when it re-opens next year following a £4 million renovation, it emerged today.

Spring Grove House was gutted by fire on Christmas Eve 2006.

Work has been on-going ever since to restore the 250-year-old house at West Midlands Safari Park.

It was licensed to hold civil wedding ceremonies and was a popular venue for wedding receptions and parties but today staff said the focus will be on corporate events when the house re-opens in 2010.

Only the four walls and chimneys remained standing after fire ripped through Spring Grove House. The blaze is believed to have been sparked by an electrical fault.

The park is also unveiling a £250,000 permanent marquee that will also host corporate events.

The African-themed Tree Tops Pavilion, close to the theme park entrance, was built so that the park could continue to host events while Spring Grove House is being rebuilt.