Hobgoblin Alternative Wedding Couple Named

A Leeds couple, who have been together seven years, have captured the public's heart by being voted the winners of a competition to win the Hobgoblin's 'The Alternative Wedding of the Year.'

The prize will see Aileen Rippon and Richard Elsbury walk down the aisle in a medieval style ceremony on the same day as Prince William and Kate Middleton.

The couple beat off 250 entries in the national competition, where they got to the shortlisted final three, which then went to a public vote.

Richard and Aileen who had lived a street apart in Leeds for months before finally meeting at a friend's house are delighted.

Aileen said: "I can't believe we have won, we are absolutely gobsmacked. The other couples were brilliant and we are amazed at the response from the public, it's lovely to know that people think we deserved this wedding."

"We have been engaged for four years simply because we couldn't find the right venue, so I am delighted to be getting the wedding I have always dreamed of which includes our friends and family, beer and of course the amazing Hobgoblin."

The wedding will see the couple take part in a full procession from the Wychwood Brewery to the stunning nearby venue of the Old Swan and Minster Mill Hotel and Spa, which is set in 65 acres of wild flower meadows and woodland on the banks of the River Windrush in the Cotswolds.

Wychwood's Justin Way said: "We would like to congratulate Aileen and Richard on winning 'The Alternative Wedding of the Year', they are deserving winners and ran a very impressive campaign. It's going to be an amazing day on April 29th not just for Prince William and Kate Middleton, the Hobgoblin is already writing his speech!"