A FAMILY-run pub has apologised after cancelling a family’s long-planned celebration lunch with only 90 minutes notice.

Annie Chambers bought up the offer for the Chequers Inn at Lytchett Matravers through online discount company Groupon and reserved a table for 12 to mark her husband Rick’s retirement.

“I had booked it for 1pm a while before. He retired in May, but it had been difficult to find a date that everybody could manage. At 11.30am I received a phone call saying they would have to cancel. They would give no reason, saying it was personal,” she said.

“Family and friends had already left home to join us at the pub, so it was upsetting and embarrassing to have to tell them it was all off. I felt awful because I had already paid for it and couldn’t afford for everyone to eat out somewhere else.”

Mrs Chambers, of Wimborne, received a refund from Groupon and is hoping to reschedule the celebration.

Julie Rees, who runs the pub with her husband Michael, said: “They were told we had a personal crisis.

“It was very serious and unavoidable. We had a lot of bookings on that day. The pub was closed for two or three days and we lost a lot of money. Clearly we didn’t take that decision lightly.

“We did apologise and did say if there was anything we could do, or if they would like to book for another time, we would be happy to make amends.

“If this lady wants to give me a call and talk to me, I’m more than happy to do that.”

The couple took over the pub a year ago and work there with three of their older children as well as other staff.