Wedding venue blasts rumours hotel being used to 'house and transport immigrants'

A popular wedding venue in Ayrshire has blasted online rumours claiming the site’s hotel is being used to house and transport immigrants.

Riverside Lodge Hotel in Irvine issued a statement on Tuesday after the claims were made on social media.

The site, described on its website as “Ayrshire’s Premier Hotel”, features 126 bedrooms, a wedding venue for up to 180 guests and meeting rooms with capacity for 200 delegates.

In a post on Facebook, the venue stated “these allegations are completely untrue” and said “the spread of misinformation” was causing unnecessary concern for staff, guests and the wider community.

The statement read: “We are aware of false rumours currently being circulated regarding our hotel, including claims that immigrants are being housed here or that individuals are being transported to and from border locations. These allegations are completely untrue.

“We want to be absolutely clear: there is no truth whatsoever to these claims. The spread of this misinformation is causing unnecessary concern for our staff, guests and the wider community.”

The Home Office confirmed to STV News that the site is not being used as an asylum hotel.

Riverside Lodge Hotel said it will contact “relevant authorities” over the impact the false allegations have had on the business, with Police Scotland confirming they had been notified regarding communications sent to the premises.

The hotel added it is taking the matter “extremely seriously” and is working to establish how the rumours originated and circulated.

‘Increasingly ridiculous claims’

However, on Thursday, Riverside Lodge Hotel was forced to issue a second statement after images of tour buses arriving at the venue were claimed online to be “connected to the accommodation or transportation of immigrants”.

The venue said: “These allegations are entirely untrue and are now becoming increasingly ridiculous and out of hand.

“Coach tours and holiday groups have been a major part of our business for many years. We regularly welcome visitors who travel with organised tour operators to enjoy holidays, short breaks, dining experiences, local attractions and overnight stays. The coaches seen arriving at our hotel are carrying holidaymakers and legitimate tour groups, exactly as they have done for many years.

“There is absolutely no connection whatsoever between these tour coaches and immigration-related activities. To suggest otherwise is simply false.”

The venue blasted members of the public photographing tour buses at the site before sharing them online, “accompanied by inaccurate claims and speculation”.

Riverside Lodge Hotel said the “misleading” claims risks damaging the reputation of the busness and tourism partners, as well as causing unnecessary alarm for staff and guests.

The statement continued: “We urge people to think carefully before sharing unverified information online. Speculation and assumptions presented as fact can have real consequences for local businesses and the people they employ.

“We would like to thank our customers, staff, Police Scotland and the wider community for their continued support and for helping to challenge misinformation with facts.”

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We received a report regarding communications sent to a premises in Irvine on Tuesday, June 16, 2026.

“Officers have engaged with staff and enquiries remain ongoing.”