Rising from the ashes: Transformation of fire-ravaged Mill at Alveley nears completion - pictures
[gallery] It is rising from the ashes – and now the finishing touches are being put to the historic Mill at Alveley, near Bridgnorth.
The venue was burnt to the ground in an arson attack in 2015. Now it is being transformed into a wedding venue called The Mill Barns as part of a £3 million project.
Three single-storey oak-framed barns are being built. They will provide space for wedding parties of up to 170, plus on-site accommodation for 50 to 60 guests. About 50 jobs will be created when the venue has been constructed later this year.
Ben and Sarah Reeves, who run Ensarb Estates, bought the site at auction for almost half a million last year.
The couple have previously renovated The Ashes at Endon in Staffordshire and also ran Pendrell Hall in Codsall Wood.
Mr Reeves said a number of weddings have already been booked for the site later this year.
He said: "It's all on schedule to hold our first wedding in July."
"We've got people travelling from all over the country to come here and get married, people are blown away by the whole style of it.
"We're getting pretty booked up for weddings this year and going forward into the years ahead.
"It's something very different, there's nothing quite like it."
The previous hotel, which overlooked picturesque gardens and a pool, dated back to the 16th century and was popular with couples tying the knot from across the Midlands.
The former flour mill shut its doors unexpectedly in late September 2014, leaving staff locked out and couples facing a battle over wedding deposits.
It burned down in May 2015, creating one of the biggest blazes firefighters have had to deal with in the county.
Firefighters remained on the scene for four days after the hotel complex was completely destroyed, with crews dampening down and searching for hot spots.
In July 2015, the hotel was bought for £490,000 through Cottons auctioneers - nearly double its original guide price.
The former hotel, which sits within 7.9 acres of land on the A442 Bridgnorth to Kidderminster road, was completely destroyed by arsonists.
For more information visit themillbarns-venue.co.uk
