Leez Priory

The website says that due to being a listed Tudor building they are limited on access but have ramps they can put out. When I found my in laws were getting married here I was worried I couldn’t attend due to being a wheelchair user however they checked with the venue and they assured them it was accessible for wheelchairs. It isn’t. I spent an hour crying in my car while my husband went to the ceremony (as I told him to), and had my mother in law in tears as well as a very apologetic groom and bride. Firstly the parking areas are deeply gravelled which is really inaccessible, and no alternative parking on a flat surface. There are a lot of stepped areas outside and they did provide ramps however these were wooden steep ramps with no grip which were too steep for a power wheelchair. We were directed by the groomsmen to try parking at the side of the venue by the goods entrance to negate the steep steps/ramp however due to plants and kerbing there was no access to the paths that way in a wheelchair. The only other way in required a ramp but also the need to step over a doorway threshold. My husband also told me that I was would have had issue at the ceremony also as it had steps. We had to leave after my husband attended the ceremony as I needed the toilet and again it wasn’t accessible. The venue should purchase properly made ramps which are longer so they’re not steep, have grip and also not guarantee it is accessible to their clients as it caused so much embarrassment and upset. Please don’t use the excuse of it being a listed building when there are ways round that don’t require permanent building works. The staff also didn’t seem to care at all, apart from one male member of staff who did try to help.