The Saddle Club, Wirral’s hidden gem events venue, has scooped an LGBTQ+ award ahead of owners Paul and Isobel Swift’s 25 years at the helm.
The Grade II-listed historic venue is well-known for holding exceptional weddings and events and is the official LGBTQ+ wedding venue in Wirral.
Family-run and full of character and charm, The Saddle Club is tucked away on Roman Road, just off Prenton Dell Road. It also has an inclusive policy. Offering a stunning area and garden to the rear for special occasions, the location is so old that it was included in the original Doomsday Book.
The venue was taken on by Paul and Isobel Swift in 1999 and the pair have hosted in the region of 25,000 events and weddings there, from funerals to parties to weddings. Shortly after their takeover, the same-sex marriage laws changed, making The Saddle Club one of the first venues in the North West to officially offer same-sex marriages and featured in Pink Pages.
The venue has won many awards during the past 25 years, such as Most Unique Venue & Service, Wakes & Life Celebration Venue and Proprietor Of The Year awards. The venue caters for people from all walks of life and backgrounds and the latest LGBTQ+ award is in recognition of their dedication to LGBTQ+ weddings. It comes in a timely manner, as Paul looks back on the past 25 years of serving the public.
Paul explained:
“It’s been an amazing 25 years and it fills us with joy to think of all the special occasions and memories that have been made here. Looking back, we’ve worked out that we’ve hosted around 25,000 events and weddings — quite staggering really when you think about it! It’s a big extended family here and some people who have celebrated their 18th, 21st, 40th birthdays and then their child’s Christenings here.”
“We have a great team and our General Manager Leah has been here for years after becoming one of the youngest licensees in the region. We pride ourselves on treating people like our own and always go the extra mile for people, providing bespoke events tailored to any budget. We also have a policy of absolute inclusivity that we’re really proud to have won awards for.”
One quite unique type of wedding is also available at The Saddle Club. Remarkably, Blacksmiths weddings over the anvil are only available at The Saddle Club in England and Wales. The traditional, historical method of getting married is revived at Blacksmith weddings, when the couple “ties the knot” with the bang of a Blacksmith’s anvil.
Paul said:
“We’ve made a great name for ourselves here which is really important considering we’re hidden away off the beaten track. You wouldn’t know we’re here so it’s important that we have a great reputation. The awards are really important and something we’re really proud of — receiving the latest one on our 25 year anniversary here is the icing on the cake.”
To enquire about the venue or wedding hire please visit the website or call 0151 608 0881.
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