One of the Wirral’s historic venues is said to be the perfect spot for LGBTQ+ weddings.
The Saddle Club is a Grade II listed venue and a popular choice for functions and weddings with the gorgeous hidden gem being the "only official wedding venue in Wirral" to offer LGBTQ+ ceremonies. Nestled away on Roman Road, the Birkenhead-based venue was amongst the first in the North West to officially offer same sex marriages when it became legal and since then has remained a top choice.
Reportedly, the venue hosts countless private functions and no more than 15 weddings per year with a fifth of those celebrating LGBTQ+ couples. The owners, Paul and Isobel Swift, said the reason for this is thanks to their forward thinking approach.
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Paul, who took on the venue in 1999, said: “Functions and weddings are without doubt the biggest part of what we do due to our venue, location and price. I’m all about inclusivity and equality so as soon as the law was passed I wanted to be one of the pioneers for same sex marriages in the region.
"As time has gone on, I have noticed there’s a real lack of options for people wanting same sex marriages around here. People from Wirral often have to travel afar or get charged extra purely due to it being a niche type of wedding. We are all about equality so charge the same great price as we would for everyone."
The Saddle Club, which is described as a “quaint venue oozing with character and a beautiful garden”, is so old it was listed in the original Doomsday Book. Given its age, it has a lot of charm and appeal to offer.
As with any wedding at The Saddle Club, LGBTQ+ weddings are "bespoke and tailored, with a full wedding package" starting at £3,000. The venue offers LGBTQ+ specific features and additions but the owners say they want everyone to be treated equally and fairly.
In addition to LGBTQ+ weddings being hugely popular at the iconic Wirral venue, it also offers Blacksmiths or ‘Anvil’ weddings. The romantic tradition of anvil weddings involve ‘tying the knot’ with the bang of a Blacksmith’s anvil sealing the deal and these weddings are still carried out today.
Paul added: “I think the world has come a long way in treating people equally and embracing diversity but there are still some failings in certain industries. It really angers me when people charge more just because something is new or niche and I believe the same great service and price should be offered to everyone , we welcome all weddings and I think that’s why we’re so popular for LGBTQ+ weddings.”
The Saddle Club offers venue hire for private parties from £150, funerals and wakes, wedding receptions and full weddings from £3,000, offering everything from the ceremonies themselves to things such as entertainment, hog roasts, candy carts and more. Deposits of £500 are required to secure your special day and prices are due to increase soon due to circumstances.
