ONE of the UK's 'top ten most popular' wedding venues has launched a bid to expand and add a new pool, gym and resteraunt to their portfolio.

Plans have been submitted for the 'erection Of Detached Building To Provide Restaurant, Gymnasium, Swimming Pool, Treatment Rooms & Changing Facilities' at the Hidden River Cabins site in Longtown.

The applicant explained that Hidden River Cabins 'over the last 10 years has developed from being a self-catering accommodation venue into what is now in the top ten of the whole of the UK for most popular wedding venues out of approximately four thousand.'

The applicant says the new building is essential for the business which started 10 years ago as a 'self catering accomodation venue' to expand it's already popular wedding business.

A design and access statement said: "Due to the customer lead developed direction of the business the new facilities are desperately required to keep providing a nationwide competing wedding business for Longtown and its local area."

The applicant wishes to create the new space which will be used both as the initial meeting space for prospective clients and the business, as well as providing customers with facilities that the venue say are ' a requirement' for couples in the run up to their special day- with the company deeming these plans 'urgent' for the succes of their business in the future.

The design and access statement said: "Due to the very nature of weddings, there is also a large requirement during the run up of the day for both wellness and beauty treatments to enable the wedding party and guests to look and feel their best for the day.

"Again, this is not all entirely possible due to the existing barn being utilised on most days during the week.

"The proposed development is urgently needed to satisfy the current and future requirements of the business and to enable the continual success of the business to complete in a comparatively non tourist area of Longtown."

The plans have been submitted for a vacant field area at the Hidden River Cabins site, and will now be under consultation by Carlisle City Council.

READ MORE: Hidden River Cabins near Carlisle in the Top 10 most popular wedding venues in the UK