Mansion looks like a 'crack den' after rooms rented out and guests removed
A mansion and popular wedding venue was left resembling a "crack den" after the owners decided to rent out rooms in an attempt to recover revenue lost during the pandemic.
Berrow Court, a grand building in the posh Edgbaston area of Birmingham, had been closed for two years due to lockdowns. The management's plan to monetise the impressive building by opening it up to more guests backfired spectacularly, resulting in substantial repair bills.
Disrespectful visitors reportedly used drugs in the rooms and turned violent when confronted. The historic mansion, once the home of politician Joseph Chamberlain, boasts ten rooms for wedding guests, some of which were made available for individual bookings earlier this year.
Customers left a room at Berrow Court in a state (Berrow Court)Management claimed some guests showed a "complete disregard for the property", leaving rooms "in a terrible state", reports Birmingham Live.
The situation escalated when a guest vandalised a room and became physically aggressive. Berrow Court revealed the guest had to be "forcibly removed" after turning "violent and aggressive" when asked to leave by a staff member. A spokesperson for the mansion described the aftermath, stating that the room was left looking like a "crack den", with drug paraphernalia strewn about.
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"After being closed for almost two years during lockdown, we thought it would help bring some much needed revenue to the venue. The damage that the guests have caused has left us with a massive repair bill," the owners said.
"It's been a very difficult and challenging time. We're very lucky to still be open as a lot of wedding and event venues went bust during the pandemic."
The mansion, in Edgbaston, Birmingham, is set in three acres of landscaped garden (Berrow Court)The historic wedding venue reopened its doors in January after being closed since March 2020. Once the grand residence of Joseph Chamberlain, the property fell into disrepair in the 80s and remained vacant for years until the Parsons family acquired it in the 1990s and restored it to its former splendour.
Now, the venue is shifting its focus towards preserving its rooms for those booking weddings and special events. Following the relaunch of Berrow Court in January, general manager Janet Parsons expressed her relief, saying: "I was fearful that we might not ever re-open again after the pandemic. But we hosted our first beautiful wedding earlier this year, which was booked during lockdown."
She added, "Since re-opening, we have been busy with wedding bookings. Guests love that we now have 10 bedrooms available for wedding guests who wish to stay overnight, without the need of leaving the venue and finding a nearby hotel. It makes the whole experience all the more special for our couples and their guests."
Inside Berrow Court (Berrow Court)Berrow Court, a popular filming and photography location, has played host to industry giants such as BBC, Netflix, and Sky. The venue gained fame when it was featured as 'The Coaching Inn' in the TV show Boon.
Now, this star-studded location is opening its doors for wedding and special event bookings. However, those looking to book individual rooms online may be disappointed, as the venue has made it clear that rooms will not be advertised separately on any online room rental platforms.
* This article was crafted with the help of an AI tool, which speeds up The Mirror's editorial research. An editor reviewed this content before it was published. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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