Olympic icon Adam Peaty and his fiancée Holly Ramsay have sparked criticism by reserving Bath Abbey exclusively for their nuptials this Saturday, preventing other couples and visitors from accessing the historic landmark throughout the entire day.
The 30-year-old swimmer and his 25-year-old model bride will exchange vows in a ceremony lasting approximately 90 minutes, yet the venue has been secured on an all-day basis.
Abbey sources, talking to The Sun, confirmed tourists would be barred from entering, while a dedicated security operation will prevent anyone from photographing the couple.
The arrangement has drawn local ire, with one resident commenting: “It seems rather selfish to be hiring the abbey for the whole day when your wedding service only lasts for an hour and a half or so.”
Standard wedding hire at the abbey typically costs around £2,500, though Peaty and Ramsay are believed to be paying considerably more to guarantee their privacy.
The couple must demonstrate a qualifying link to the venue under abbey regulations, which permit ceremonies only for parishioners, congregation members, or those with an established connection to the site.
While the precise nature of their relationship to Bath Abbey remains unclear, the pair are said to possess a “special connection” that satisfies these eligibility criteria.
When approached for comment, Peaty’s spokesman declined to elaborate, telling the publication: “It’s a private, family wedding.”
Approximately 200 guests are expected to attend the ceremony, with Holly’s celebrity chef father Gordon Ramsay among those confirmed, alongside close family friends David and Victoria Beckham.
However, a significant family dispute has resulted in the groom’s mother, Caroline, being excluded from the invitation list entirely.
Adam Peaty and Gordon Ramsay’s daughter, Holly, are due to marry on Saturday
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PAThe rift extends beyond the wedding itself, with Peaty reportedly omitting most of his relatives from his Christmas gift-giving this year.
Neither his parents nor his brothers James and Richard received presents from the Olympic medallist.
His brother James was arrested last month for allegedly making threats against the swimmer, deepening the apparent estrangement between Peaty and several members of his immediate family.
Despite the family tensions, Peaty did purchase gifts for some younger relatives, including his brother Richard’s daughter, his sister Bethany, and her two children.
Yet the swimmer chose not to buy anything for James’s two sons, aged 11 and seven, a decision that has attracted sharp criticism.
A family source condemned the move, saying: “Kids are innocent and shouldn’t be included in any family fallout. To do this is cruel and spiteful.”
Adam Peaty has won three gold medals during his Olympics career | PA
Peaty and Ramsay irst met in 2021 on the set of the BBC show Strictly Come Dancing.
Peaty was a contestant on the series, competing alongside Holly’s younger sister, Tilly Ramsay.
While they were introduced during the filming of the show, their relationship remained platonic at first. Romance blossomed later, with the pair reportedly beginning to date in 2023.
They officially went public with their relationship in June of that year following a trip to Rome and announced their engagement in September 2024.