Cally Brooks

Wheelchair user Jenni Pettican says she was left unable to reach the altar at her £16,000 wedding at Newland Hall near Chelmsford after staff failed to return an accessibility ramp. Guests and members of the wedding party eventually positioned it, but Pettican says the incident tainted the day and that the venue initially failed to acknowledge or apologise for what happened. She also describes earlier disputes over step-free access and an allegedly higher deposit linked to keeping an accessible route open. Newland Hall’s current owners, who took over after the wedding, say they were not involved but have apologised for the distress, begun reviewing procedures, and plan an accessibility assessment and disability-awareness training.