A CHAPEL has applied for permission to conduct weddings.

The Chapel in question is a former place of worship that was converted into a pub in 2007.

The landlords of the watering hole in Cotford St Luke have come up with a 'proposal' to stage marriages there.

They have applied for permission to Somerset West and Taunton Council to carry out ceremonies in the premises in Graham Way.

And three couples are already lined up to tie the knot if the go-ahead is given to the pub, which previously catered for the spiritual needs of patients at the former Tone Vale Mental Asylum.

A statement accompanying the application says: "We have held several wedding receptions, wakes, birthday parties and tribute nights over the last five years.

"But now, one couple in particular, want to actually marry here."

That couple are Julie and Darren, who first met in The Chapel, where they had their first date and where Darren got down on one knee to ask Julie to be his wife.

The couple live and work in the village and are keen quizzers at the pub.

They had hoped to marry this December, but the date has now been put back to May next year due to the lockdown.

Another couple, Em and Johnny, from Hatch Beauchamp, had been due to marry at Taunton Register Office in May, but when that was called off due to the coronavirus crisis, they decided to provisionally re-book at The Chapel for August.

And Tracey and Nigel, from Wellington, also want to make their vows at the bar.

For Tracey, The Chapel was love at first virtual sight - she has never been to The Chapel, but liked what she saw online and plumped for a Thai food reception - even though they have never eaten traditional food from Thailand,

The application adds: "We have already had a visit and approval from Somerset’s chief registrar, submitted all relevant paperwork and passed our health and safety inspection.

"We wouldn’t anticipate...that we would hold more than six or seven weddings maximum in a year, as we would not want to discourage our core trade as a pub/restaurant."

If successful, couples getting hitched in Cotford St Luke will once again be able to say: "Going to The Chapel and we're going to get married."