Former director of the popular Scots wedding destination, which has since closed, leaving future spouses’ plans in disarray, has been prohibited from serving as a director due to the company’s downfall.

Ty Crossley, the former leader of Broomhall Castle, near Stirling, has been reprimanded by the Insolvency Service for the company’s handling of its finances before it went into liquidation – evidenced by him receiving £250,000 while neglecting to pay more than £470,000 to HMRC.

The sought-after venue, located near the vibrant heart of Glasgow, now has new proprietors. It halted operations in 2022, citing Covid as the reason 18 engaged pairs were left with nowhere to celebrate their union. Crossley, 53, has since been barred from serving as a company director for over three years.

Chief investigator at the Insolvency Service, Mike Smith, observed that Crossley didn’t ensure Broomhall Castle paid and submitted returns to HM Revenue and Customs, resulting in HMRC debts exceeding £475,000 out of a total debt surpassing £512,000 at the time of liquidation.

Smith noted, “His management was not up to the standards expected by the Insolvency Service, hence our satisfaction in imposing a three-and-a-half-year disqualification.”

In Menstrie, Clackmannanshire, the venue went into liquidation in August 2022, costing 12 employees their jobs. This left brides-to-be in the dark, having to find replacement venues. The Castle, with its rich history dating back to 1874, served as a hotel for nearly four decades.

Begbies Traynor, appointed as the joint liquidator, acknowledged that the business “suffered due to Covid-19 lockdown effects,” resulting in the accumulation of unmanageable debts. They revealed there were 18 weddings booked when the company fell apart. Unfortunately, client’s deposits were only refunded through their respective credit card firms.

Jennifer Currie, from Stirling, who planned to tie the knot with her partner Rachel Jenkins at a Harry Potter-themed wedding, expressed shock and dismay. They said, “We didn’t have the slightest idea this was going to happen. It left us scrambling to find a wedding venue.”

Local businesses in and around Glasgow united to help numerous couples, including Jennifer and Rachel, salvage their nuptials.

Documents newly released by the Insolvency Service indicate that Crossley, director of Broomhall Castle Management Ltd, engaged in business activities “to the detriment of HMRC” over nearly three years.

It was revealed that the business failed to submit returns and payments accounting for more than £397,000 in VAT and over £71,000 in PAYE from February 2020. Additionally, a review of the bank account during this period showed an income of £1,071,272 and withdrawals totalling £1,088,903. These withdrawals included payments of £248,391 to Crossley, various goods and services, rent expenditures, and bounceback loan repayments, with £304,000 paid in wages.

The Insolvency Service report indicates no payments were made to HMRC for VAT during this period, and six trade creditor claims amounted to £500,418, of which HMRC claimed £475,647.

It was also revealed that 42 customer creditor claims were submitted at the time of liquidation, representing deposits taken and bookings not honoured, amounting to more than £12,000.

Crossley was appointed director of the company in 2011, but he had also been listed as a director of Broomhall Castle Ltd since 1998. Despite our attempts, Crossley was unreachable for a comment.