Peckforton Castle will face a county court battle on Monday

Dec 17 2009 by Naomi Dunning, Chester Chronicle

THE owners of a Cheshire landmark are launching a County Court battle against a couple who claim they mis-sold them their wedding venue.

Peckforton Castle’s owners, Tony and Chris Naylor, are taking a couple to court on Monday for refusing to pay the full cost of a wedding which they cancelled.

Jane and Robin Griffin, from Warrington, booked their dream wedding in October 2007 at Peckforton Castle to take place in September 2008 and paid a £2,000 deposit.

Mrs Griffin said: “They advertised they had disabled facilities and, after going to view the castle, we were assured by Tony Naylor that they had adequate disabled access.”

The couple say they repeatedly asked to view the rooms but it was only on their third visit they were allowed to see them – and realised the rooms were not fully equipped for people with disablities.

The Griffins say they were also alarmed to see the ramp for disabled access was two planks of wood. Jane’s niece uses an adapted wheelchair which would not be able to negotiate it.

The couple had signed a contract to say if they cancelled within six months of the wedding date, they would have to pay the full £10,000 plus the cost of an estimated bar spend.

After raising their concerns, the Griffins said they were told by the Naylors they would be able to work around the problems. But when they met to discuss the situation they claim it was within the six-month period – and the Naylors had no solutions.

Jane said: “We even asked if we could have the wedding in the grounds instead, but they refused, so we were forced to cancel.”

The couple say the Naylors told them they could not alter the building because it is Grade I listed. But English Heritage said this would not necessarily mean amendments could not be made to provide disabled access.

The couple did get married on the day they had planned at Crewe Hall but say their two-year Peckforton Castle experience has been a ‘nightmare’.

On Monday, they will meet the judge and the Naylors’ barristers at the castle to view the facilities.

They will represent themselves in a three-day county court trial in Warrington.

A spokesman from Peckforton Castle said: “This case is the subject of ongoing legal proceedings, it would be entirely inappropriate to comment on those proceedings at this stage.”