NESTLED away on Roman Road, just off Prenton Dell Road, is a quaint venue oozing with character and a beautiful garden and it is so old it was listed in the original Doomsday Book.

Such is its charm and appeal, it hosts countless private functions and around eight to 15 weddings per year — with a fifth of those weddings LGBTQ+ ones.

Wirral’s historic Grade II Listed venue, The Saddle Club, is a popular choice for functions and weddings.

The venue is also a popular choice for LGBTQ+ weddings and is the only official wedding venue in Wirral for such ceremonies.

Owners of the building Paul and Isobel Swift took on the venue in 1999 and when the same sex marriage laws changed shortly after, The Saddle Club became one of the first venues in the North West to officially offer same sex marriages.

Paul explained told the Globe: “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.

Wirral Globe:

“As time has gone on, I have noticed there’s a real lack of options for people wanting same-sex marriages around Wirral.

“People from Wirral often have to travel afar or get charged extra purely due to it being a niche type of wedding.”

As with any wedding at The Saddle Club, an LGBTQ+ wedding is bespoke and tailored, with a full wedding package including full venue hire, garden, ceremony, decor, drinks on arrival, private bar, bites, and nibbles, buffet, cakes starting at £3,000.

Wirral Globe:

They can offer LGBTQ+ specific features and additions but Paul and Isobel want everyone to be treated equally and fairly.

Paul said: “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.”