By Erica Crompton
While researching manor houses, stately homes and Scottish castles for an intimate wedding for two one thing struck me: many of the olde worldy hotels with that air of romance seem to put their heritage above access for wheelchair users, like my fiance.
Whether it’s steps at the entrance, showers with lips or inaccessible dining areas, as I go further into research it feels like I’ve hit a brick wall.
But, there are a few manor estates and castle hotels dotted around the UK that do offer access and have gone the extra mile to ensure comfort for couples like us. Like the Cringletie in Peebles and the nearby Moat House in my home village of Acton Trussell in Staffordshire (the accessible room here is a steal at £100 a room, per night!)
By far my favourite stately manor house rests in St Albans though, the St Michael’s Manor Hotel. A far cry from the city of London which it is considered part of, St Michael’s Manor offer a ramp at the entrance and also a convenient side entrance that has a built in ramp.
There’s an accessible room here with plenty of space for a wheelchair to turn and a wetroom with all the accessible trimmings I’ve come to expect for travel with my wheelchair-using lover.
Set within five acres of private gardens and overlooking its own one-acre lake, St Michael’s Manor
Hotel offers guests the opportunity to enjoy relaxed dining in one of Hertfordshire’s most picturesque settings.
Accessibility, I’m told, is an important part of the guest experience at St Michael’s Manor. The restaurant, lounge and key public areas are designed to be welcoming and accessible, allowing guests to enjoy lunch, dinner or Afternoon Tea in comfort while overlooking the Manor’s gardens.
It’s good to learn that stately sites like this are starting to go the extra mile to improve access for all. In this regard, St Michael’s Manor are leading the congo up the path of accessibility without compromising style.
