By Sarah Dale
13 October 2025
Award-winning designer Kate Fearnley has been overwhelmed with support from the Teesside community following her shock announcement that she is closing her business after 24 years.
The imminent closure means that Kate has 50 wedding dresses, 30 prom dresses and accessories available to buy at special discounted prices.
This week, the beautiful Rudby Hall Hotel will host an exclusive event for women looking for a last chance to purchase an original Kate Fearnley dress – perfect for any business award ceremony, races day or special occasion; these dresses are not exclusively for weddings or proms. There is also the opportunity to purchase one of Kate’s classic designs from the noughties featuring her trademark bow detail. The dresses available, which include mini and full-length designs, are all in sample sizes 8-12.
Kate Fearnley’s closing down sale will be held at Rudby Hall Hotel, which is between Hutton Rudby and Stokesley, on Sunday, 19th October, from 10am to 2pm. Models will showcase some of Kate’s eye-catching designs at the event and the cocktail bar will be open to buy refreshments. All of Kate’s remaining stock will be available to purchase on the day, before she closes at the end of October. A sale of the company’s industrial sewing machines, furniture, haberdashery and fabrics will be held the following Sunday, 26th October at Kate’s Stokesley studio.
Registration for the free event is available at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exclusive-kate-fearnley-sale-tickets-1803001809949?aff=oddtdtcreator
Mark Booth and Suze Chomo, co-owners and directors of Rudby Hall Hotel, said: “Kate’s beautiful designs align perfectly with the luxurious setting of Rudby Hall Hotel, which has been the venue for countless weddings over the years. As well as being the perfect place to stay for a romantic escape or a relaxing retreat, Rudby Hall is also becoming the go-to venue for exclusive events.
“This event gives women across Teesside and North Yorkshire a fantastic opportunity to own their very own Kate Fearnley design at the fraction of the full price in a setting which embodies luxury and serenity, the perfect place to choose a special dress.”
Earlier this week, Kate announced her “heartbreaking” decision to close the business after 24 “incredible” years which saw the 49-year-old scoop a host of accolades including National Winner of the Wedding Industry Award for Best Wedding Designer not once but twice, and the Cosmopolitan Entrepreneur Fashion Designer Award, which even took her down to 10 Downing Street. Her designs have been sold in over 80 independent boutiques across the UK and Ireland – including Selfridges and ASOS – worn by celebrities on the red-carpet including Michelle Keegan and Girls Aloud, appeared on countless front covers and featured in national magazines.
However, the strain of trying to keep the business afloat in the current economic climate has been taking its toll on the fashion designer’s health and finances and this month, she realised she had no other choice but to shut down the business.
The outpouring of sadness and support for Kate has been humbling for the designer whose favourite part of her vocation has always been seeing the “absolute joy” on women’s faces when they find “the one”, the perfect dress for a special occasion.
Entrepreneurship is in her DNA – Kate followed in the footsteps of her dad Alan, who ran Alan Fearnley Records for 43 years, and her grandad Bernard, who ran a photography business. Each generation of the Fearnley family occupied the same shop on Linthorpe Road in Middlesbrough at different times over the years.
Her move into bridalwear led to her “best year ever” in 2022, with her inaugural Awaken collection gaining rave reviews across the bridal industry.
However, although the bridal collections had initially flourished and been stocked across the UK, promwear was a big part of Kate’s business model, and the pandemic had severe repercussions on people’s buying habits.
Over the next few weeks, Kate and her colleague, Lucy Tyndall, will be completing all existing orders before they close.
“A huge heartfelt thank you for the overwhelming outpouring of support I have received since I announced the closure,” adds Kate.
“It really does mean the world. I really hope that as many people as possible come to the sale event at Rudby Hall Hotel to support my last hurrah.”
- Kate Fearnley dresses, in sizes ranging from 8-12, will be available to buy at Rudby Hall Hotel between 10am and 2pm on Sunday, 19th Wedding dresses will be priced between £200 and £1,000 (reduced from between £1,500 and £2,000), mini bridal dresses will be priced £50-£100 (reduced from £500-£600) and prom/occasionwear dresses will be priced £50-£300 (reduced from £500-£850). Cash or bank transfers only.
- Furniture and sewing machines, mannequins, fabrics and haberdashery are also available for purchase. The Stokesley Studio will be open on Sunday, 26th October from 10am to 12pm and on Monday, 27th October, from 3pm to 5pm.
- Limited private sale sample appointments in Kate Fearnley’s Stokesley studio will also be available up to the end of October. Please email kate@katefearnley.com or message @katefearnleybridal to arrange this.
- Find out more about Rudby Hall Hotel’s illustrious history, luxurious rooms and how to book a stay, at rudbyhall.com
Please register attendance at: https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/exclusive-kate-fearnley-sale-tickets-1803001809949?aff=oddtdtcreator
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