A COUPLE have been told their wedding reception at the i360 has been cancelled less than a month before their big day.

Gavin Madden and Mark Miller had booked exclusive use of the pod of the new seafront viewing tower and hired the restaurant to celebrate their big day.

But with just weeks until their celebration and family and friends planning on travelling from as far afield as Australia, the attraction has cancelled the Brighton couple's event.

Mr Madden said: "We had booked the whole car which my partner paid £2,500 for and a reception in the restaurant on July 29.

"They have only just told us that due to storm damage it won't be going ahead."

The i360 has repeatedly denied that they are facing delays - but have consistently refused to reveal an exact opening date. Chief executive Eleanor Harris told The Argus in May they planned to be open "in time for the school summer holidays" which start on June 22 and general tickets would go on sale in June.

But last week they said they hoped to be open to the public before the end of the holidays in September.

Gavin and Mark had a civil partnership 10 years ago and were looking forward to converting their union into a marriage. Their ceremony is due to be held at Brighton Town hall but they said the reception at the i360 was still meant to be a significant part of their celebration.

Mark added: "Last week we were looking at the menus with them and no one said there was any problem.

"They have said they will try to find us somewhere else, but it's not really the point.

"Our friends and family have been booking hotels and places to stay in Brighton and two people are coming from Australia.

"When we first booked we asked if they had contingency plans in case of delays and whether it was too close to the opening date and they assured us it would be fine.

"Last Friday (July 8) we had been picking the meals then on Wednesday they told Mark it couldn't go ahead.

"He couldn't even tell me to start with then he just broke down in tears.

"They said it was because of storm damage and that the flooding last month had caused problems.

"And if there were problems caused by the storms why did they wait until so late to tell us?"

A spokeswoman for the i360 said that the Belle View restaurant had flooded "a few weeks ago" and they had hoped it would dry out sooner, hence the delay in notifying Gavin and Mark.

She said “no other part of the beach building was affected" but could not explain why the use of the pod had also been cancelled and said they had not realised the booking was for a wedding reception.

She added that they were "not aware" of any other bookings that had been cancelled.

The couple have now managed to find an alternative venue for their reception.