Amir Khan's £11.5m luxury wedding venue finally hosts its first marriage: Bride arrives on horse

Release time：2024-05-21 08:52:11 Source：Culture Compass news portal

Amir Khan's £11.5million luxury wedding venue has finally hosted its first marriage after a series of hitches.

The lavish 'Dubai-style' tower in Bolton opened on Saturday with a bang as the venue's first-ever bride and groom celebrated their big day in style.

Videos showed guests being serenaded by violins in front of palm trees and eating fruit canapés served by staff in bow ties, as they watched the bride arrive on a horse-drawn carriage and the groom in a Rolls Royce.

Khan's venue - named 'The Balmayna' - sits opposite a car wash and fly-tipping spot and has previously been criticised as 'looking like an office building' and 'tacky'.

Broken fridges, settees and dirty mattresses were seen dumped by fly-tippers around the venue in January this year. 

Two months later, pictures showed the venue's grand chandelier hanging from a corrugated metal roof near a smoke alarm and cables.

But images from Saturday's event showed how staff had quickly managed to fix these issues, as the building's lavish marble floors and chandeliers were on display for all guests to see.

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The first couple to be married at Amir Khan's £11.5million wedding venue arrived via a horse-drawn carriage and Rolls Royce 

Guests at the lavish Dubai-style tower in Bolton were serenaded by violins in front of palm trees

Water features and palm tress are visible inside and outside the building located on Washington Street

Piles of rubbish can be seen piled up just outside the new luxury venue in Bolton 

A Balmayna spokesperson said: 'The first love story at the Balmayna. So elegant, so magical, simply a dream. We wish our bride and groom the most happiest of blessings. Such a stunning backdrop for your memories.'

Work on the Washington Street site has taken far longer than expected, with Khan pouring in an eye-watering £5million of his own money since work began more than a decade ago.

The former light-welterweight world champion blamed the delays on 'unprofessional management'.

But now the venue is open for couples wanting to tie the knot and it promises on its website a 'royalty experience' and 'a touch of magnificence and excellence in every celebration'. There is a waterfall and palm trees inside - along with greenery and a floral design.

In another posh room with red velvet sofas and an armchair, books about designers Chanel and Louis Vuitton plus butterflies in a domed display case can be seen.

There are also candles and pamphlets about The Balmayna - which translates as Enamelled from Arabic.

A group of musicians welcomed guests and the happy couple during the Balmayna's first wedding on Saturday, May 18 

Images from Saturday's event showed the building's lavish marble floors and chandeliers

The venue promises on its website a 'royalty experience' and 'a touch of magnificence and excellence in every celebration

Guests were served fruit canapés as they arrived at the venue 

Formally dressed staff in bow ties were seen for the opening event 

One room has been unveiled, with sofas and an armchair around a posh table

On top of it are books about designers Chanel and Louis Vuitton, plus butterflies in a domed display case

The building's design has divided opinions with one fan likening it to one in Dubai, where Khan partly resides, and others comparing it to looking like the Premier League trophy

Former boxer Khan, 37, wasn't at his venue for the grand opening, as he was in Saudi Arabia for the Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk fight. 

But he said: 'The Balmayna's doors have finally opened.'

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Inside Amir Khan's £11.5m luxury wedding venue: Boxer reveals first peek behind doors of 'Dubai-style' tower which sits next to a car wash and fly-tipping spot in Bolton - with grand chandelier seen hanging from corrugated metal ceiling

The building's design has divided opinions with one fan likening it to one in Dubai, where Khan partly resides, and others comparing it to looking like the Premier League trophy. 

At the start of the year, those who lived in the area were far from happy with the design, with one person writing on Instagram: 'It's an absolute eyesore!!!! A blot on the landscape!!! It's a huge lack of class! It also doesn't look anything at all like the image portrayed.'

In January, broken fridges, settees and dirty mattresses were seen dumped by fly-tippers around the venue. While mounds of household rubbish lay strewn across the streets leading up to the imposing structure. 

Chunks of rendering are already missing from the walls encasing the building, along with damaged brickwork at the entrance to the venue.

Local resident Georgina Pickering added: 'It looks a mess at the moment with all the rubbish around the sides and walls but that will all be gone by the time it opens.

'The building is massive - like a giant greenhouse, the like of which you'd see in Dubai - and does look odd next to everything else around here but it's an improvement on what used to be there.'

But local Iqbal Azal, 40, said: 'I don't mind it. Yes, it is big and loud but at least Amir is trying to improve the area. 

The luxury complex comes complete with glass walls, a waterfall and palm trees

An old bin and broken fridge have been dumped at the site which is due to start receiving guests in just a a few weeks 

A filthy old mattress  and an abandoned suitcase are seen among huge piles of rubbish near the complex

A filthy old fridge has been dumped outside the wedding venue which is due to open in March 

Adam Swindles, 28, said: 'My fiancé is looking at potential wedding venues at the moment but this won't be on her list

The former welterweight and light-welterweight champion married model Faryal Makhdoom in 2013

'Hopefully, it will create jobs for people living near to it. People have been fly tipping around it and there is litter everywhere so it doesn't look great at the moment. Hopefully, it will look better when it's finished.' 

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EXCLUSIVE Broken fridges, dirty mattresses and piles of rubbish surround Amir Khan's new £11.5 million 'Dubai-style' luxury wedding venue - just weeks ahead of its opening

Khan, now 37, has often made his way into the headlines outside of boxing, as well as a handful of controversies.

The former welterweight and light-welterweight champion married model Faryal Makhdoom in 2013, with the pair having two daughters, before announcing their separation in 2017.

In the same year, he accused heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua of having an affair with his wife.

He has since reconciled with Makhdoom and starred in a BBC TV series with her called 'Meet the Khans'.

Last year, he also failed a drugs test following his fight with Brook after a banned bodybuilding substance called ostarine was found in his system.

After being banned from all sport for two years, he bizarrely claimed his positive test could have been from 'shaking people's hands' and pleaded his innocence, claiming he 'never had or never will cheat'. 

Khan's new venue is near two car washes and an auto body shop

Khan - who is married to model Faryal Makhdoom (left) - has built an £11.5million wedding venue in Bolton that 'looks like it belongs in Dubai'

Khan retired in 2022 after his knockout defeat to rival Kell Brook before failing a drugs test 

The venue's website reads: 'Now situated in the heart of Bolton, this wedding venue is the brainchild of Amir Khan, the world champion boxer, ensuring a touch of magnificence and excellence in every celebration.

'Let our seasoned wedding planners turn your vision into reality, ensuring every detail is flawlessly executed. Step into a world of natural beauty and elegance.

'The Balmayna boasts a stunning floral garden theme, seamlessly blending nature's charm with contemporary design.

'The highlight is our real-life waterfall feature within the hall, creating a truly magical atmosphere.

'Our commitment to excellence is reflected in the state-of-the-art lighting and sound systems, elevating your wedding experience to new heights.'

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