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'Fake £20 note' fall out ruined my Glasgow wedding

"They ruined our wedding night and treated us like criminals. <i>(Image: Supplied)</i>
"They ruined our wedding night and treated us like criminals. (Image: Supplied)
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A heartbroken bride has told of how a row over alleged "fake £20 notes" at her wedding ruined her special day.

Dionne and James Phimister tied the knot on November 1 and booked the Kings Park Hotel in the Southside for their meal and reception.

Spending their big day with friends and family, they were having the time of their lives before "everything changed."

Dionne and James Phimister on their wedding day (Image: Supplied)


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The happy couple on their big day (Image: Supplied)

Dionne explained: “Just before half 12, before the night ended, the manager approached my husband and me and said somebody had used multiple fake paper notes, and we had to pay to replace them there and then.

“I said, 'how is that our responsibility? Your staff should have been checking that.'

"They ruined our wedding night and treated us like criminals.

"We spent our first few days of married life full of stress and worry, dealing with the police."

Dionne said there were three functions in the hotel that particular evening, and that guests from various events were using the bar; however, the hotel said only guests at the wedding used that space.

Dionne added: “We’re just having to take their word that the notes came from a table at our party.

“They demanded that we pay it. We refused and said, 'It’s our wedding night, we’ll speak to you in the morning, and we’ll happily cooperate'.”

The Phimisters also claimed that some of their wedding gifts were "stolen" by the hotel's staff, and that Police Scotland were involved; however, cops confirmed that there had been no criminality regarding those reports.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "On Wednesday, November 5, 2025, we received a report of a possible theft in the Rutherglen area.

"Officers spoke to the reporter, carried out enquiries and advice was given.

"No crime was established."

'Fake' £20 note fall out ruined my Glasgow Kings Park Hotel wedding (Image: Supplied)


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The Glasgow Times spoke to the hotel, which says it has a different account of the evening's events.

A spokesperson for Kings Park Hotel said: "We are aware of the concerns raised by this couple, but the account they are sharing doesn’t fully reflect the information we have from that evening. £200 in fake notes was given to staff at their function.

"The till that received the notes was only for their function.

"When management approached them with the notes, they kicked off and started fighting with the staff.

"Police were called, and they had to eject some of her guests. We have full CCTV footage of this.

"As there are inconsistencies between the versions being presented, we won’t be discussing the details publicly.

"The guest has indicated they intend to pursue legal action, so we are no longer engaging in communication with them — or with anyone else — regarding the specifics of this matter.

"Any further correspondence will be handled exclusively through the appropriate legal representatives."

Dionne responded to their account, saying: "There was no one 'ejected' as it was after guests had left.

"I know there was a separate incident at another function where one person was arrested, but they were not from our function.

“They’ve ruined our whole wedding experience – from the minute they approached us that night, it’s just ruined it.

"We stayed in the hotel and literally got up and left at eight in the morning because it was such a terrible experience.

"We weren’t even offered breakfast, and we didn’t feel welcome to stay.

"I've reached out to complain, and they’ve completely ignored me.

“It’s bad service considering everything we’ve been through with them, and we’re not even getting a response.”

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