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🇦🇺 Australia /Culture & Society

'Unexpected' Closure of Adelaide Wedding Venue Leaves Couples Scrambling

From ABC Australia · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Sources not specified Outcome reported
  • A popular Adelaide Hills wedding venue, Ondeen, has unexpectedly closed, leaving couples scrambling to find new locations.
  • Couples are facing significant financial losses and stress due to the abrupt closure.
  • The venue's closure is reportedly due to a lease termination dispute with the landlord.

Numerous couples in Adelaide are facing the stressful reality of finding new venues for their weddings after the sudden closure of Ondeen, a popular restaurant and cellar door in the Adelaide Hills. The venue, which had been operating for two years in Verdun, announced its closure last week via social media, citing an "unexpected" termination of its lease.

It is with incredibly heavy hearts that we share that Ondeen has unexpectedly received notice of the termination of its lease and has been forced to close for now.

— Ondeen social media postAnnouncing the unexpected closure of the wedding venue.

For bride Mia Anfiteatro, the closure means a financial blow of $15,000 to $20,000 as she scrambles to rebook her wedding. She had planned specific details around Ondeen's unique offerings, including photos with the resident highland cows and a golf ball activity for guests. Similarly, bride Nicola Thiele, who is getting married next month, managed to secure a new venue but described the process as stressful, particularly as a busy mother of three.

We've got two young girls who were really excited to get photos with the highland cows.

— Mia AnfiteatroDescribing the disappointment of having to change wedding plans due to the venue's closure.

Both brides expressed disappointment with the notification method, having received news of the closure via email and struggling to contact the business through other channels. The situation has caused significant disruption, with some couples unable to recoup costs from other vendors already booked for their original date.

I'm a busy mum, I've got three children under six, and then I'm trying to get married.

— Nicola ThieleExplaining the added stress of finding a new venue while managing family responsibilities.

Ondeen co-founder Deborah Kingsbury stated the business is pursuing legal options and will work with affected couples. However, the landlord's legal representative indicated that Ondeen had received multiple notices of default and that the landlord was taking steps to protect their position. The landlord expressed a preference for a prompt resolution but declined to comment further due to ongoing communications.

The tenant remains in default under the lease and the landlord has taken steps to protect its position.

— Landlord's legal representativeStating the reason for the lease termination and subsequent closure.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by ABC Australia in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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