by Christian Drewitt | Accessible Parking, Attraction, Leisure, Quick Picks, Recommended Venues, Stroud
Stroud College | 9th July 2019
Accessibility RatingÂ
PhysicalÂ
Five out of fiveÂ
SensoryÂ
Five out of fiveÂ
Location: Stroud College
Stratford Road
Stroud
GL5 4AH
Parking
There are 10 accessible car parking bays and 2 accessible minibus bays outside the college. 3 of the accessible bays are to the left of the entrance and the rest are on the right. Parking is free when a blue badge is displayed.
Entrance
There is a wide pedestrian route from the accessible bays to the entrance and there is a large open space of pavement in front of the building. There are two lots of automatic double doors which stay open for a suitable amount of time for a wheelchair to pass through comfortably.
Reception
The reception is in a large open space with plenty of room for multiple people to be at the reception counter at once and there is clear manoeuvring space in front of the desk. The reception counter is a contrasting colour to the floor and worksurface, meaning it can be easily identified by individuals with a visual impairment.
There is a lowered reception desk on the right with plenty of knee recess, so wheelchair users or people of smaller stature can communicate with the receptionist with ease. On arrival visitors must sign in on a touch screen connected to the counter which the receptionist is happy to give guidance on use. This is moveable so can be handed to a wheelchair user when needed.
IMAGE Outside of the college
Hearing Loop
There is working hearing loop in the Learning Resource Centre (LRC) which always remains on.
Corridors
The corridors throughout the college are wide and have non slip flooring. There is plenty of room for a wheelchair user to navigate the building without causing obstruction. There are double doors throughout the corridors which remain open, adding to the ease of movement.
IMAGE Top floor corridor with plenty of space
Wayfinding
There is signage throughout the building which clearly outlines the layout, however the font is quite small and may be difficult to read for the visually impaired.
Each floor’s layout is similar, meaning it is easy to understand whichever floor you are on.
IMAGE Signage in corridor
Canteen
The canteen is on the ground floor and to the right as you enter. It is large and spacious with plenty of space for manoeuvring. There are vending machines to the left when entering the canteen and the buttons are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user.
The tables and chairs are secured to the ground and there are 3 tables with chairs removed so a wheelchair user can sit comfortably at a table.
The food station counter is a suitable height for wheelchair users and people of a smaller station. However, there is a taller station for condiments which would not be reachable by a wheelchair user.
There are numerous food and recycling bins in the canteen which are clearly signed and easy to find. However, one of these sets of bins is up a slight step which means a wheelchair user can’t get close enough to use the bin. Additionally, the bins are pedal bins which can be impossible for a wheelchair user to use, therefore resulting in having to lift the bin up manually. This can make putting items in the bin difficult for somebody with limited dexterity or the use of only one hand.
There is a water fountain at the end of the food station. The button is hard to push down and may also cause someone with limited dexterity difficulty.
There is also a tuck shop within the canteen area which offers a wide range of snacks.
IMAGE Food station in canteen
IMAGE Canteen seating area
Lift
There is one lift to the left of the entrance. It has good signage on it stating that it should only be used by people who really need it. If there is a maintenance issue with this lift, there is another lift that can be used. The lift is a good size and can comfortably fit a wheelchair user and assistant. They have a reflective back wall so a wheelchair user can see behind them when reversing out and there is braille on the buttons.
Classrooms
The classrooms are spacious with desks spread apart so that individuals can move around the room with ease.
There are timetables on the outside of each classroom however these are in a very small font and would be very difficult for an individual with a visual impairment to read.
IMAGE Signage. Please leave this lift for those with a genuine need
IMAGE Classroom with plenty of space between tables
Learning Resource Centre (LRC)
The LRC is on the 2nd floor and is accessed via two heavy double fire doors and a wheelchair user will need aid in opening these. The LRC is large and open plan with plenty of manoeuvring space at the reception desk.
There is plenty of space between computer aisles and book aisles. We spoke in depth with the manager of the LRC, Mel, who is passionate about making the LRC as inclusive an environment as possible. She told us about the efforts that were made during the summer to rearrange the library ensuring it was as organised as possible. We were also informed that a conscious effort was made to make each aisle between bookshelves wide enough for 2 wheelchairs to pass each other with ease.
There are 2 accessible computers with rise and fall desks. Both computers have signage on the desk outlining that they can be used by anyone but must be made free if somebody requires them specifically. There are numerous accessible additions for these desks, including read and write software, a large button keyboard with coloured keys, a rollerball mouse, wrist mats and a braille keyboard. Mel informed us of the efforts she went to for the braille keyboard which is a story worth sharing:
A blind student was keen to take a computer course, however the high cost of accessible options such as a braille keyboard made this difficult. Mel used her initiative and, using a label maker, made braille labels for a standard keyboard and meticulously attached each braille sticker to each key so that the student could take the computer course. This is an inspiring story from an individual who is clearly happy to go above and beyond in ensuring there is nothing holding individuals with disabilities back from achieving their goals.
The LRC also offers mindfulness colouring which adds to enrichment time. There are also inductions suited to individual needs.
The college also offers email counselling so that students can easily access emotional support if needed.
IMAGE Magazines and journals at lowered height
IMAGE Large open plan Learning Resource Centre
IMAGE Colouring for mindfulness
IMAGE 2 computers for wheelchair users
IMAGE All accessible equipment
IMAGE Bookcases at lowered height
The Chase
Stroud college offers The Chase which is an opportunity for independent living and employment. The Chase offers learners with an inclusive curriculum and the emotional and personal support to enable them to achieve qualifications and progress into pathways that are tailored to their individual needs, including supported employment, independent living, further education or full employment.
They have a fully functioning kitchen with a lowered counter, sink and hob for wheelchair users or people of a smaller stature. The underneath of the counter, sink and hob is empty, leaving plenty of knee recess for a wheelchair user.
IMAGE The Chase kitchen with lowered worktop
Toilets
There are 3 accessible toilets, 1 on each floor and a changing places and accessible shower room on the ground floor.
Accessible toilets
Each toilet is located in the same place on each floor making them easy to find, they are all to the left of the lift as you exit and each toilet is very similar. The doorways are 900mm wide meeting minimum requirements. The rooms measure 2400mm x 1600mm which exceeds minimum requirements and leaves space for a wheelchair user and assistant. However, there are disposable and sanitary bins in the transfer spaces which means there is not enough turning space for a wheelchair user. This can also make transferring to the toilet difficult.
The emergency pull cords were not the correct height and not always reachable from both the ground and the toilet.
The toilet seat is 48cm from the ground which is the correct height. The flush pedals are easy to use, and the floors are non-slip. There is no coat hook on the doors.
All amenities are at a lowered height for a wheelchair user or person of smaller stature and the grabrails are a contrasting colour from the walls to aid the visually impaired.
Accessible shower room
The accessible shower room is on the ground floor opposite the accessible toilet. There are grabrails of contrasting colour on both walls near the shower and wall mounted seat. The shower head is removable and there is a large lever for ease of use. There is also a bench and non-slip flooring.
Changing places facility
There is a large changing places facility in The Chase area. It offers a hoist, toilet and a shower with wall mounted seat and changing bed. There is also a shower wheelchair available. The emergency pull cord has both rings at the correct height and all amenities are lowered.
IMAGE Shower room with wall chair and grab rails
Gym
We were unable to view the gym during our visit due to it being moved location, however we were informed that there isn’t any wheelchair accessible gym equipment at this campus.
Evacuation Procedure
There are refuge points on each level with an intercom system that goes directly to the fire panel on the ground floor. Care workers at the college know where all points are and in the event of an emergency all refuge points will be double checked. There are also evacuation chairs at the refuge points. Care assistants are also all given the choice to receive refresher training on the evac chairs.
by Christian Drewitt | Council Office, Stroud
Stroud Town Council Offices | 10th June 2019Â
Accessibility RatingÂ
PhysicalÂ
Four out of fiveÂ
SensoryÂ
Five out of fiveÂ
Location: Stroud Town Council Offices
Thanet House
58 London Road
StroudÂ
GL5 2AD Â
Parking
The closest car park to the council offices is Brunel Mall which is about 150 yards away. Blue badge holders can park for free here and there is access via a lift to get to ground level.
There is slight incline on the walk to the council offices and there is a section where the pathway is quite narrow and may not be very easy for individuals with larger wheelchairs.
Entrance and Reception
The entrance to the town council offices is step free and the doorway is 880cm wide which exceeds minimum requirements. On entry there are desks on either side with the main receptionist on the right.
There is space for a wheelchair user to sit under either of the desks and the chairs can be easily moved out of the way if necessary.
IMAGE Entrance to council offices
Hearing Loop
There is currently no hearing loop in Stroud Town Council offices however we were informed that all efforts are being made to get one in place.
Council Meeting Space
Through the reception is the area that is used for council meetings. On my visit it was set up as if there was a council meeting planned and the general public are welcome to attend any council meeting. There is a 92cm gap to enter this space which is wide enough for a wheelchair user to pass through with ease.
The tables are a suitable height for a wheelchair user to sit underneath comfortably and I was informed on my visit that any presentations would have an enlarged font should it be required for anyone with a visual impairment.
Accessible toilet
The accessible toilet is in the council meeting space.
The toilet doorway is 900mm wide which meets minimum requirements however there is no grab-rail on the inside.
The accessible toilet is a good size at 1900mm x 2200mm with a baby changing unit behind meaning there is enough turning space for a wheelchair user. The emergency pull cord is next to the toilet and the lowest pull is 8cm from the floor while the highest is 98cm from the floor.
The toilet seat is 43cm from the floor which is too low and may be difficult for a wheelchair user to transfer from the toilet back to the wheelchair. The flush is also too high for a wheelchair user to reach with ease.
There is a lowered coat hook which is suitable for use by a wheelchair user or person of smaller stature. The signage in the toilet is a small font and is high up meaning it would be difficult for a wheelchair user or individual with a visual impairment to read. All amenities are at a lowered height apart from the mirror.
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Toilets
Kings Square Accessible Toilet | 10th April 2019
Accessibility RatingÂ
PhysicalÂ
Â
Three out of fiveÂ
SensoryÂ
Â
Five out of fiveÂ
Location: Robert Raikes House
36-38 Southgate Street
GloucesterÂ
GL1 2DR
Wayfinding
Robert Raikes is based to the left as you exit Eastgate Centre. The community toilet scheme leaflet outlines that Robert Raikes is on Southgate street, which is clearly signposted throughout Eastgate Centre.
It is unclear that Robert Raikes is involved in the community toilet scheme without the leaflet, and if you were new to Gloucester it may be difficult to find as the signage is not clear.
Entrance
The doors into the Robert Raikes are very heavy and would be difficult for a wheelchair user to open alone. Once inside the pub there is signage to the standard toilets upstairs, however there is no signage to the disabled toilet. It is located in the back of the restaurant and may involve asking a member of staff for directions as it would not be easy to find without prior knowledge.
IMAGE Lowered grab-rail on door and easy lock door handle
Inside the WC
The doorway into the WC is 900mm wide which is 50mm below minimum requirements.
The WC is quite small, only just meeting minimum requirements and although there is space to turn in a wheelchair and an assistant, it is a bit of a squeeze.
There is a right-hand transfer, however a peddle bin and toilet brush obstruct this space which can cause difficulty for a wheelchair user.
The emergency pull cord is located to the right of the toilet. The lowest ring on the cord is only just off the ground at 3cm. This is too low as it would not be possible to pull on the cord enough at this height to raise the alarm. The second pull ring is 54cm from the floor which is also too low to reach easily from the toilet.
The toilet has a push button flush which can be difficult for people with limited dexterity.
There are handrails situated next to the sink, under the toilet roll dispenser and on the left of the toilet, as well as a drop-down rail. The sink is situated close to the toilet and all amenities are at a lowered height that is suitable for a wheelchair user of person of smaller stature.There is a coat hook on the door, but it is too high.
The WC has good lighting with no off-putting smell and the wall colour contrasts the handrails and toilet so they can be easily distinguished.
There is a caution sign on the basin warning of very hot water, however the font is slightly small and may be difficult for someone to read with visual impairments.
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Toilets
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Toilets
Debenhams Accessible Toilet | 29th March 2019
Accessibility RatingÂ
PhysicalÂ
Â
 Three out of fiveÂ
SensoryÂ
Â
Four out of fiveÂ
Location: DebenhamsÂ
Kings SquareÂ
GloucesterÂ
GL1 1RPÂ
WayfindingÂ
The main entrance to Debenhams has multiple steps and there is no sign to the accessible entrance, which is located to the left of the entrance.
There isn’t clear signage when entering Debenhams as to where the toilets are located. To locate them you must follow signs to the lift, and it is located on the 3rd floor. Additionally, the disabled toilet was located further on than the standard toilet with the only sign to this being on the door.
There is no ambulant toilet in the standard toilets and there is one unisex disabled toilet which needs a radar key for entry.
Entrance
There are two doors into the accessible toilet, the first is a manual push door which is self-closing. This is quite heavy and difficult to use for a wheelchair user. The second is a manual pull door which is much lighter weight and has a grab rail at a suitable height.
The width of the doorway to the toilet meets minimum requirements at 1000mm (minimum requirements 950mm). There is also a grab rail on the inside of the door at a reasonable height, however there is no coat hook on the door.
There is non-slip flooring on the entrance to the toilet, but not inside.
Inside the accessible toilet
The dimensions of the room for the disabled toilet exceed minimum requirements with dimensions of 1720mm x 2930mm, this allows plenty of room for an assistant and turning space for a wheelchair.
This toilet uses a left-hand transfer and the transfer space between the WC and the wall is 98cm. The flush on the toilet is a push button rather than a lever which can be difficult to use for people with poor dexterity.
The toilet roll dispenser is on the left, slightly behind the WC seat which may cause difficulty for some people with limited mobility. The hand-dryer is at a lowered height, suitable for wheelchair users and people of a smaller stature.
The lowest ring on the emergency pull cord is on the ground which is unsuitable however the second ring meets minimum requirements at 91cm off the ground. There is a sign in a clear, large font above the WC that identifies the pull cord is there for emergencies.
The accessible toilet is very quiet and has good lighting with no off-putting smells.
IMAGE The disabled toilet room
IMAGE Sign for emergency pull cord
by Christian Drewitt | GP Surgery, Stroud
Locking Hill Surgery | 21st March 2019
Accessibility RatingÂ
PhysicalÂ
Â
One out of fiveÂ
SensoryÂ
Â
Four out of fiveÂ
Location: Locking Hill Surgery
Locking Hill Road
Stroud
GL51UY
Date of visit: 21st March 2019
Parking
There is limited parking at the surgery with no accessible bays. When I arrived the car park was full so I parked in Merrywalks car park which is about a 10 minute walk away. However, there are two accessible bays at the top of Lansdown Road which is about 150 yards from the surgery. Both routes could be challenging for people with limited mobility due to there being a steep decline towards the surgery on Locking Hill road and a steep incline through the shopping centre.
Entrance
The car park is on a different level to the reception and access can be gained via steps with a bannister to aid with stability. Alternatively, there is a sidewalk along Locking Hill road with a steep incline.
There is a clear entrance with double electric doors which takes you into a reception area with two seats and room for a wheelchair.
There is a self-check-in monitor immediately to your left when entering the building which was out of order on my visit, however it is too high for wheelchair users or people of smaller stature.
To the right is the reception point where a wheelchair user or person of smaller stature would be able to get the attention of the receptionist, however the counter was quite high.
IMAGE steep steps leading from car park to reception
IMAGE Sign for alternative route avoiding steps with no dropped kerb
IMAGE Main entrance to reception. Double electric doors with clear signage
IMAGE Reception area with self-check-in monitor
Hearing loop
There is a portable hearing loop which is kept behind the reception that has been tested and works. The confidentiality of the loop has also been tested and the conversation from the waiting room couldn’t be heard. There is sufficient signage on the entrance and in the reception area.
Male accessible toilet
There is both male and female accessible toilets in the reception area with clear signage.
The dimensions of the room for the male accessible toilet meets minimum requirements meaning it is easy to turn around in and there is space for an assistant. However, the width of doorway is below minimum requirements at 720mm.
The door is lightweight with an easy to use lock, however there is no coat hook on the inside.
There is an emergency pull cord situated next to the sink which would not be within reach from the toilet. The sink and soap dispenser are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user or person of smaller stature, however the hand dryer is too high.
There is no handrail on the wall next to the toilet meaning a transfer would be difficult and the handrail on the door is too high at 1250mm.
Female accessible toilet
The dimensions of the room for the female accessible toilet is slightly under minimum requirements however there is space for a wheelchair and an assistant. The doorway is just short of minimum requirements with a width of 920mm. The door is lightweight with an easy to use lock, however there is no coat hook on the inside.
There is an emergency pull cord situated next to the toilet which only had one pull ring and was 440mm off the ground which is too high. The sink and soap dispenser are at a suitable height for a wheelchair user or person of smaller stature and the handrail is at a suitable height. There are sufficient handrails at the toilet for easy transfer.
IMAGE Male accessible toilet with inadequate handrails
IMAGE Female accessible toilet with adequate handrails
Waiting area
There is easy access around the waiting area and plenty of space to manoeuvre a wheelchair with ease. There is a table with leaflets on which is at a lowered height.
There is good lighting and it was a peaceful environment during my visit and there is clear signage into the waiting area and then into the consultation rooms.
Consultation rooms
The hallway to the consultation rooms is narrow, measuring 960mm and the doorway into the largest doctor’s room is 870mm wide. There is a sharp bend on the entrance to the largest doctor’s consultation room which would make entry difficult for larger wheelchairs. The room was large enough to fit a wheelchair user and assistant, with plenty of space to manoeuvre.
I couldn’t gain access to all of the rooms due to them being in use, however I was advised that staff would know to prearrange a larger consultation room when required.
Offices
I also briefly looked around the office space for staff members, situated downstairs. The offices were not fit for purpose for a wheelchair user that may work there, making it a non-inclusive environment.
Staff training
I was warmly welcomed by the Practice Manager, Jenny who is aware of the accessibility issues and keen to take recommendations on board to create an inclusive environment. All staff were polite and friendly making patients feel comfortable. Despite the physical access issues the staff were accommodating, making it an all-round positive experience.
The surgery will accommodate you to your particular requirements, if you are unable to get into the surgery because of the access issues then a home visit may be arranged.
If the surgery is aware you have a hearing impairment the doctor or nurse will come to collect you from the waiting area.
by Christian Drewitt | Cirencester, Leisure
New Brewery Arts | 1st March 2019
Location: New Brewery Arts
Brewery Court
Cirencester
Gloucestershire, GL7 1JH
Date of visit: 1st March 2019
Parking
There is no customer parking for the venue but there is a public car park The Brewery Car Park 1-2 minutes walking distance with flat access for wheelchair users. There are 6 accessible parking bays here and you can park for free with no time limit with a blue badge permit.
Entrance
The main entrance was sufficiently wide with automatic double doors, this entrance is flat making it accessible for everybody with no need for a ramp. When entering the building there are stairs directly in front, to the right is a sloped area with a banister which leads you to the gift shop on your right and to your left is a lift and through another door are toilets including accessible toilet.
There is good contrast in colours between the floor and the walls which makes it easy to follow for people with visual impairments.
Guide dogs are welcomed to all areas of the New Brewery Arts.
Image – main entrance, double electric doors
Craft shop
The craft shop which is to the right of the main entrance has lots on offer from local artwork to jewellery, the aisles and turning points can be quite tight which can make it difficult to manoeuvre in a wheelchair or if you had a visual impairment. Extra care needs to be taken due to breakable items in the shop. Most of the items in the shop are within eyeline for wheelchair users or people of smaller stature. There are a few cabinets with higher shelves however, the shop assistant came to ask whether I would like to see them and advised she would show them to me.
The shop has an open ceiling and the café was above, the café was quite busy making it quite noisy in the shop.
Image – craft shop, lots of sculptures on show
Image – craft shop, Christian viewing jewelerry on display
Toilet
There are separate male, female toilets and one accessible toilet. They are located past the main entrance to the left, there is a manual door which may be difficult for some to open by themselves. If you require assistance you could ask the shop assistant.
The accessible toilet door opens inwards and is quite heavy and there is a baby changing unit in here. The room is spacious and well within minimum requirements and the toilet has all the necessary rails to be able to transfer to the toilet safely.
The toilet cistern is quite noisy which could be off putting.
The sink, hand soap dispenser and toilet roll dispenser are all at an adequate height.
Image – accessible toilet
Lift
The lift is located through the main entrance and towards the back of the building. It takes you 4 different floors including the ground floor. The first floor is the café, second is the gallery, third is part of the studios. The buttons and signage are a little hard to understand within the lift.
The lift is quite small but big enough for a wheelchair and one other person depending on size. The dimensions of the lift are approx. 140cm x 110cm.
The lift has dual entry doors which makes it easier and limits the need to reverse out of the lift (there is not enough room to turn around in the lift.) there is a mirror on one side wall to aid with reversing from the lift.
There is a voice over within the lift to aid with direction.
Café
The café is on the first floor and is accessible via the lift. The café was busy with lots of people and so quite noisy. They serve lots of homemade food from organic and locally sourced ingredients so understandably is very popular. If you prefer a quiet corner, then the café may be a bit overwhelming.
The tables are quite close together and when filled with people sitting around them made it difficult to get to the counter in my wheelchair, which was at the far end. My PA went to the counter to make our order instead. The menus are nice and lightweight, there are no large print menus.
My hot chocolate was, however, delicious!
The barrel store (Accommodation)
There is a newly built accommodation suite at the back of the site. This is more of a hostel type so are small and basic, but they are very clean and modernised. There are 14 rooms, 1 of these rooms is wheelchair accessible on the ground floor.
The wheelchair accessible room would be suitable for a smaller sized wheelchair, I have a small wheelchair and was only just able to turn around within the room. There is one single bed in the room so not suitable for people wanting to share a room.
There is currently no shower chair in the accessible bathroom so showering may not be possible for wheelchair users. The shower head is fixed very high on the wall and is not adjustable.
The toilet is left-hand transfer and there are suitable grab rails for this. The other facilities such as sink, and soap dispenser are at a suitable height.
There is currently no vibrating pillow for people with hearing impairments but is being looked into.
There are two other rooms on the ground floor, due to limited space I wouldn’t recommend these to wheelchair users.
Image – accessible bathroom. Toilet with grab rails, mirror and washing facilities
Image – single bed in accessible accomodation, low bed with stool next to bed
The barrel store (Communal areas)
There are double manual doors to enter the building, there is a key code for guests to let themselves in making the area nice and safe. There is also a buzzer to ring for assistance if needed. On the other side of the door is an exit release button, the doors are heavy so may require assistance.
The foyer is a bright open space and to the left is a communal kitchen and eating area. There is a long table that could seat approx. 14 people and a well-equipped kitchen, all of the equipment is at a lowered height and there is a full-length fridge. A wheelchair user could use this kitchen without assistance.
There is a disabled toilet within the communal area, there is a push button to open and close the door automatically, which is useful. The door allows plenty of time to enter and exit the room before closing. The toilet is not a huge size but is still useable.
Image – communal eating area, Christian sat around table
Image – kitchen in communal areas, equipment at low height
Makers Studios
It was interesting to visit the studios and see many of the artists at work. There are 10 studios, spread across 4 floors. 7 of which have step free access, 1 is down a flight of stairs under the ground so not accessible for people with limited mobility, 2 are on the ground floor but have one small step at the doorway, I was not able to get my electric chair over the step.
The 7 accessible studios have lots on offer including workshops such as sculpting, printmaking and ceramics. There was a pottery wheel which I was able to get my wheelchair around and accessible tables for the painting meaning I could have taken part in the ceramics workshop. The glass blowers studio was fascinating to watch the beautiful handmade glass being made and the staff came over to explain and show you what they were doing.
There are other studios are on the first and top floor accessed via a lift, the sculpture studio is through the café and across a bridge. All studios above the ground floor have step free access, the walkways are clear and easy to get to.
Image – Christian sat around pottery wheel in makers studio
Image – Christian viewing artwork in studio
Image – glassblower showing us how he makes glass
Image – open doors to studio with step free access
Image – small table and chairs outside cafe for diners to use
Image – steps downstairs to inaccessible studio
Gallery
There is a gallery located on the first floor which is accessible via the lift. The exhibitions here are free to visit. It is a big open room with bright lighting. It is all level entry with no steps and there is a good contrast between the floor and wall to aid orientation.
Image – gallery with artwork on walls
Customer service
All the staff working in the studios, shop, café and office are very helpful and asked how they could accommodate me with my wheelchair.
Accessibility Rating
Physical
Four out of five
Sensory
Four out of five
by Christian Drewitt | Attraction, Gloucester, Recommended Venues
Slimbridge Wetland Centre | 21st August 2018
Location: WWT Slimbridge
Bowditch, Slimbridge
Gloucestershire, GL2 7BT
Date of initial visit: 29th March 2017
Date of revisit: 21st August 2018
Parking
There is a large car park with 17 disabled spaces, the spaces are located close to the ramped entrance and the car park toilets which has one disabled toilet.
Image – large disabled bays in car park
Image – Christian travelling up ramp to reception point
Accessibility
I would very much recommend a visit to Slimbridge Wetland Centre, there is something there for everybody. Majority of the park is accessible for a wheelchair due to the ramps and clear, wide pathways, the wildlife can be appreciated by children and adults making it fully inclusive.
You can hire an electric scooter or a manual wheelchair from the park, it is advised to call in advance to book one of these. Electric scooters are £6 for the day and they ask for a donation towards manual chairs to go towards maintenance costs.
Image – scooters for hire
Image – Low reception point with disability sign
For people with visual impairments there are volunteers on offer, they will aid you around the park whilst giving you some interesting facts about the fabulous surrounding wildlife. This is work in progress and training is still being given but has been greatly received. Due to this being offered by volunteers you will need to contact the park to organise this ahead of time and be flexible to work around them. The centre will also print out a large print map on request if you need one.
Slimbridge also have dates where they hire out Mobiloo to have on site, who provide extra toileting facilities including an electric hoist, adult size changing table and an assistant available. The upcoming dates are as follows:
- Wednesday 22nd August 2018
- Tuesday 18th September 2018
- Wednesday 24th October 2018
Please visit the website to keep up to date with any other news.
Image – Christian enjoying the view from the observatory from low windows.
Image – Christian enjoying the view from the observatory from low windows
You can read about the Slimbridge 2020 project here. Within this project are some exciting things on the horizon regarding accessibility such as a fully functioning lift at the new Holden Tower (from Autumn 2019) with a stunning view over the Estuary, current access is up two flights of stairs. The summer walkway is going to be made accessible (opening summer 2020) and they are also building a new accessible Avery and outdoor theatre which will have disabled toilet facilities inside.
During wet winter months you are required to disinfect your shoes and wheels going round certain parts of the park, there is a mat and wheel wash provided.
There is a Land Rover Safari which takes you along the banks of the River Severn with a expert warden to point out the surrounding wildlife, a lift has recently been installed which can accommodate 2 wheelchairs per journey. However, we didn’t get chance to experience this.
The centre itself is very big and you could easily spend a full day here, on entrance there is a large double automatic door leading into the venue, with a button for disabled users to press this will open the door and there is a lowered reception point on the right for disabled customers. You can collect a token from the reception for the observatory which is a viewing platform up high where you can see a 360-degree view of the Wetlands. This is accessible via the lift.
You then lead from the visitor centre directly out to Swan Lake, there is a flat, wide decking type bridge which leads over the lake with birds either side, you can get close to the water and feed the birds with grain which can be purchased at the visitor centre for £1.50
Image – Christian travelling over decking bridge over swan lake
Image – Christian enjoying the birds at Swan Lake
Welly boot land is just around the corner from Swan Lake, this is a great area for children, I was able to get in here and could sit comfortably around a bench but the activities are very interactive and would be no good for a child in a wheelchair. There are small bridges over water streams, roundabouts, climbing frames etc.
You can then work your way around the park in a loop, I would recommend from the left and then looping around to the right (e.g from swan lake, welly boot land, south discovery hide, Asia, otter pool, Hogarth hide, tropical guide, Kingfisher hide, playpark/toilets, North America, duck decoy, pond zone, garden of reflection, Knott hide (this pathway has some less accessible areas so you may want to end your trip before), gift shop, home!) there are lots of gates which are required to be kept shut, this is to keep certain birds in their home environment but also to keep other animals out such as foxes. Some less able-bodied people would not be able to open these gates, if you were visiting alone without any assistance then the staff are happy to help with this as much as possible.
Image – Climbing frame in welly world
Image – inaccessible bridge over water in welly world
Image – Wide open pathways
Image – ramp leading to hideaway
The South Lake discovery was fantastic hide with a great view for a wheelchair user and lots of space to manoeuvre inside, there were lots of low windows I could get to and binoculars available. This was one of the best Hides for accessibility.
The otter pool has flat decking all around and a glass wall to separate so you get a good view, the otters sleep quite a bit in their cave during the day, you can also go through the cave where there is a small window to look through, this would be difficult for someone with limited sight due to the height of the windows and it was quite dark. They also do talks about the otters at 11.30am and 3.00pm.
The flamingo lagoon is also a superb hide for accessibility, there is a ramp leading down and a very large window. You are slightly underground here so the flamingos are at eyeline which is easier to see for somebody with a sight impairment. There is also a video screen in here with an audio information headset about the conservation work the WWT are doing for flamingos.
Image – birds coming up close to hideaway
Image – Christian in Kingfisher hideaway looking out window at wildlife
Image – Christian listening to audio description in flamingo lagoon
Image – Christian looking at flamingos from afar
The park outlines on their map that the Stephen Kirk hide, the Holden Tower and the Summer walkway have restricted wheelchair access which is correct (no access at all) you can view some of the other hides along this route although we didn’t see much wildlife along this track so for a wheelchair user I personally avoid going any further than the pond zone.
When I visited in November I was also not able to access the Kingfisher hide as they required you to clean your feet/wheels before entering but there was no facility to do this for my wheelchair.
Image – Christian washing hands at washpoint, sinks nice and low and easy to reach taps
Image – Double manual doors to hideaway
Image – disinfectant mat, no wheelchair option, leading to Kingfisher hideaway
Image – Manual gates that are around the park
Café/Restaurant
There are two Kiosks around the park where you can buy drinks and confectionary, there was no lowered counter here.
The Kingfisher Kitchen is located by the entrance and had very good accessibility, there were benches outside I could comfortably fit my wheelchair underneath and lots of tables inside too. The walkways were nice and wide, and it was easy to navigate around. The menu was light but they do not offer a large print or braille menu, the PDF screen readable online menu is available here. You are required to go to the counter to place your order, the counter is at a low height.
There are vegetarian and gluten free options on the menu and they offer take away food in 100% compostable boxes.
Image – Christian sat round a bench outside the Kingfisher restaurant
Image – Christian sat under a table in Kingfisher restaurant
Toilets
There are 6 accessible toilets located around the park, all four of the toilets I had time to look at had good facilities inside, with all necessary adjusting hand rails and lowered sinks etc, none of them required RADAR keys. The 6 accessible toilets are located:
- Car park
- Foyer by main reception x2
- Visitor centre, downstairs
- Near restaurant, located outside the building
- To the side of the kiosk by the play area
Most toilets are near the entrance to the park apart from the toilets by the play area so I would advise making this your half way break point.
Image – disabled toilet near restaurant
Image – disabled toilet near play area
Image – disabled toilet near car park
Lift
The lift takes you up to the observatory and is located in the visitor centre, it isn’t large enough to turn around in but it is large enough for somebody to assist a wheelchair user inside. The buttons are easy to reach and the lighting is quite dim.
Customer Service
Project Manager, Jackie Harris met with us to show us around the wetland centre. Jackie very kindly gave up her day to provide us with a taster of a guided tour around some areas of the park and was able to give us some great insight about the wildlife. She took all of our comments about areas for improvement on board and was very keen to make the park as accessible as possible. The volunteers we spoke to at the reception were also very helpful and friendly.
Visit Slimbridge Wetland Centre website for more information including ticket and membership prices.
https://goo.gl/maps/UTjmjpVzYkJ2
by Christian Drewitt | Cheltenham, Hotels
Hotel du Vin | 27th July 2018
Image – disabled bay out front of hotel
Image – platform lift outside hotel
Location: Parabola Rd, Cheltenham GL50 3AH
Date of visit: 27th July 2018
Parking
There is one accessible parking bay located outside the front of the building, the car park is quite small and turning space for the vehicle is tight. The accessible bay is directly opposite the main entrance.
There is also a rear car park with one accessible parking bay, this leads to the garden and to the Bistro. There is a small step leading into the Bistro, a manual wheelchair would be able to use this entrance however, it would not be suitable for an electric wheelchair. Management have advised they will look to purchase a temporary ramp for the step which will make it fully accessible. (this can be accessed from the front of the building and via lift)
Accessibility
The main entrance is up a small flight of steps, there is a platform lift for a wheelchair. This was very easy to use for a wheelchair user by themselves. Once you exit the lift the entrance is directly to your right. The reception point is a low desk, accessible for a wheelchair user. The reception desk is open 24 hours a day with two reception staff, so a member of staff can assist somebody to their room if required. There are phones to call reception in the rooms too if you require assistance.
When checking into the room, there is a questionnaire you can complete is you require assistance in the case of emergency, this gives you the opportunity to detail your exact requirements, so staff know how to assist you best. There are evac chairs on the first floor.
There is dimmed lighting throughout the whole hotel and bistro.
Image – Christian in wheelchair using platform lift independently
Image – reception with low desks
Image – bathtub in hotel room
Image – large double bed at lowered height
Image – accessible bathroom in hotel room with two fixed handrails
Image – wet room and hand rail in hotel bedroom
Image – large double bed at lowered height
Image – hotel room, bed and other furnishings, window letting in light
Rooms
There are 3 accessible bedrooms with large bathrooms/wet rooms, these rooms are accessible via the lift. All other guest rooms are up some steps so inaccessible if you have a walker or wheelchair. The rooms are very spacious, and the beds are lowered for easy transfer. There is a bathtub in the bedroom but no hoist. The bathroom was very big and easy for a wheelchair to move around in. There is one handrail for the shower but no seat, there is a stool available at reception for use in the shower. This may not be suitable for all disabled guests. The toilet has two fixed handrails, the hand rail is a little high. There is no emergency cord in the room.
Bar and Bistro
The bar is located to the left of the reception on the ground floor, the bar is quite high but there is table service. There is quiet music in the background and there are plenty of quieter corners. The Bistro is down a level, this is accessible via the lift. There are plenty of accessible tables in the bar and bistro. The menus are light but the writing is small, they don’t offer a larger print menu for people with visual impairments, they do have online menus for screen readers – https://www.hotelduvin.com/locations/cheltenham/bistro/
Image – quiet corner in bar
Image – decor in bar and stair leading down to bistro
Image – bistro, open space with accessible tables
Lift
The lift can take you from the ground floor to the underground level which is the Bistro and the first level which is the accessible rooms. The lift is quite small, may not be suitable for a particularly large wheelchair, when entering the lift there is room for somebody to assist directly to the left, it is advisable for them to entre the lift first. The doors close quite quickly so best for somebody to hold the door.
Toilets
There is an accessible toilet on the ground floor, it is big enough for a wheelchair to turn around in and the facilities within the toilet are at a low level. There is an emergency cord to the left of the toilet if sat on toilet.
Customer Service
Luke the general manager and Remi the reception manager both showed us around the hotel, they were very polite and helpful. They took on all of our recommendations for improvements and were keen to as accessible as possible.
Image – lift with easy access buttons
Image – disabled toilet, two hand rails, adjustable rail to the right and emergency cord
https://goo.gl/maps/UTjmjpVzYkJ2
by Christian Drewitt | Attraction, Gloucester, Leisure, Recommended Venues
Blackfriars | 10th July 2018
Location: Ladybellegate St, Gloucester, GL1 2HS
Date of visit: 10th July 2018
Parking
There are seven accessible bays located outside the Blackfriars, in the Lady Bellegate street car park which is a council owned car park, you can park here for free with a blue badge.
There is also an NCP car park which backs directly onto this car park, there are accessible parking bays in this car park however, there is no free parking with a blue badge, so you will need to pay for a ticket.
Accessibility
There is a small curb to gain access to the main entrance, they have a temporary ramp for this which would remain in place if there was an event on. This takes you through a stone archway and down a wide pathway. There are some benches to the right of the pathway on some grass. At the bottom of the pathway is another archway which leads through to a courtyard, here you can access the North, East and South range.
Image – Christian mounting ramp in wheelchair to main entrance
Image – Christian mounting ramp in wheelchair to main entrance, close up
Image – Christian driving wheelchair through single passage archway leading to a courtyard
Image – Christian driving wheelchair down entrance pathway
Image – Christian driving wheelchair towards North and East range
Turning left through the archway takes you down to the North range, this is an original priory church building and is used for events such as weddings and parties as well as theatre productions and music events. There is a small slope leading down to two sets of wide doors, these would be open during an event. There are two floors to the North range, the second floor is up 5 steps, both floors are all open plan and there is a platform lift available to the left of the stairs. All areas are accessible for wheelchair users.
Image – Additional entrance to North range, double doors
Image – Wide entrance leading to North range
Image – Second floor to North range, fully accessible large space
Image – Steps leading to second floor in North range
Heading out of the North range and turning left takes you to the East range where there are three floors. The first floor has a small room which can be used for meetings or signing of the registers for a wedding. There is a wooden ramp that has been built throughout the first floor which makes the accessibility very good. There is also another door in here via which can be accessed via the ramp, this leads to a garden and then through to the top floor of the north range. There is a piece of ramp leading down to a empty part of the building, there is not much to see down here and floor is very uneven so I would avoid going down here.
The second floor can be accessed via a platform lift, when exiting to the lift your first right takes you to a café/bar area with some small tables to sit at, these were suitable for a wheelchair, although a large wheelchair may find it difficult to find underneath. There is a fold out section of the bar which is slightly lower and an appropriate height for a wheelchair to order and pay for drinks. Next door along is access to the toilets, the disabled toilet is at the end of the corridor.
The third floor is also accessible via the lift, there is a smaller room here which can also be used for events, there is a flat entrance and is all accessible.
Image – Christian sitting underneath table in Cafe in wheelchair
Image – lowered section to bar
Lift
The two platform lifts in the North and East range are both easy to use, the buttons are at a low height. However, they do have manual doors so a wheelchair user or somebody with a visual impairment may need assistance to do this.
Image – Christian entering platform lift in North range
Image – platform lift in East wing with manual door
Image – Easy reach buttons in platform lift
Toilets
The accessible toilet is located on the second floor to the East range and requires access via the lift. It is very spacious, large enough to turn around in, as it is located at the end of a corridor it is easier to turn around in here rather than reversing down the corridor which is not wide enough to turn around in. The toilet is on the back wall to the left as you enter, and the emergency cord is in corner next to the toilet. There is an adjustable handrail and wall mounted hand rail to each side for left and right-side transfer. The sink, hand dryer and soap dispenser were all at a lowered height. The toilets were very clean.
Image – Disabled toilet with multiple handrails
Image – Low sink, hand dryer and soap dispenser in disabled toilet
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Hotels
Hallmark Hotel | 10th July 2018
Image description – four disabled parking bays located outside hotel
Image description – three more disabled parking bays located outside hotel
Location: Robinswood Hill, Gloucester, GL4 6EA
Date of initial visit: 13th January 2017
Date of revisit: 10th July 2018
Parking
There are seven clearly signposted accessible parking bays, located outside the front of the building. Each with lots of space for manoeuvre around them. There is a pathway to the left of the parking bays which leads down to the main entrance, there is a slight slope leading down.
Accessibility
The hotel is built on a hillside therefore you are able to access both floors of the building without a lift.
The main entrance is all a flat, even surface, there are electric, double doors leading to the reception. The reception point is quite high, however the receptionist came around to speak to me. From the main reception to the hotel there are steps and no lift, however there is an accessible entrance located to the right of the building. This can only be opened from the inside so a member of staff will need to open this for you. The accessible entrance leads you through the bar and restaurant area which then leads down a wide corridor and the two guest rooms with accessible bathrooms are located right at the end. Also at the end of the corridor is the fire exit and refuge point, so in the case of an emergency you are as close as possible to the exit.
Image description – wide corridor leading to hotel rooms
Image description – refuge point, outside balcony area
Image description – ramp leading from reception to side entrance
Image description – wide ramp leading to accessible side entrance
Image description – Large double electric doors to reception
Image description – Tall reception point
The two accessible rooms have clear access, there is only a small amount of room to turn around within the rooms. There is an emergency pull cord located to the right hand side of the bed (if lying in bed) and a deaf guard, vibrating pillow. Each room has a wet room with a walk in shower and seat with lifting handrails each side to transfer, along with the toilet and more hinged, adjustable handrails and another emergency pull cord to the left of the toilet (if sitting on toilet).
Image description – guest room with twin beds
Image descripton – bedside emergency cord by bed
Image description – Shower room with folding seat and folding handrails
Image description – toilet with 4 handrails, one of which folds up and down
- Restaurant and Merlot SuiteÂ
The restaurant is all open plan, the bar is quite high but they offer table service. There is also a large suite which can be used for business conferences, weddings and parties. There is a flat entrance and wide door leading in, it was currently set up with large circular tables which were suitable for my wheelchair to fit underneath. Within the kitchen they will cater for dietary requirement such as liquidised foods as long you provide what is necessary.
There is a leisure centre which is located at the back of the building and on the lowest floor, to access this in a wheelchair you are required to go around the side of the building. If walking, there is a steep slope leading down, this could be difficult in a manual wheelchair. You can also drive around to the rear car park which may be easier, the rear car park is a new edition and there are no disabled parking bays at present but they are looking into this. The leisure centre is accessible for a wheelchair but there is no hoist facility, there is a disabled changing/wet room, this is kept locked to non disabled guests are unable to use it so you will need to get staff to open the door.
Image description – Merlot suite, large circular tables set up for conference
Image description – Bar in Merlot Suite, tall L-shaped bar
Customer Service
The hotel manager Nora, kindly took the time out of her day to show us around the hotel. She advised us how all staff are happy to assist anybody around the hotel with special requirements. There are phones in the rooms to call reception staff, which is open 24 hours a day. All staff are dressed professionally and were very helpful during our visit.
https://goo.gl/maps/UTjmjpVzYkJ2
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Hotels
Bowden Hall | 8th June 2018
Parking
There are two designated accessible parking spaces, close to the front entrance of the building with big signs stating they are for disabled guests only.
Accessibility
There is a set of double doors to the main entrance which leads through to a single manual door to enter the hotel. There is also a low reception point so that a wheelchair user could check themselves in.
Café/Lounge
There is a lounge with a bar area where you can sit and have drinks, including complimentary tea or coffee. There is plenty of space for a wheelchair user to access this lounge and accessible tables and chairs to sit at.
The kitchen will cater for dietary requirement such as liquidised foods if you provide the food to do so.
Rooms
There are 72 rooms in the hotel, two of which are disabled friendly, they are on the first floor which is accessible via a platform lift. There is one twin and one double room with a walk-in shower and seat and there are adequate handrails to transfer. The bathrooms and the rooms are a bit tight and the beds are quite high which could be difficult to transfer to from a wheelchair.
They have vibrating pillows for the deaf and there are panic alarms by the bed. There is a refuge point in case of emergencies, to get here you turn left out of the room, along the corridor and turn right and it is at the end of the corridor.
Lakeside Suite
The Lakeside Suite is fully accessible, this is used mainly for weddings or businesses conferences. The seating area is up some stairs as you enter, there is a ramp if you carry on straight which goes up the side of the building. There is disabled toilet within the Suite which is at the bottom of the stairs and to the right. It is in the female toilets which isn’t signposted.
The Conference Room
The conference room is on the 2nd floor, this is not accessible for wheelchair users or somebody using a walking aid. The hotel is looking into getting a lift installed for the future, but this hasn’t been achieved yet. The hotel is a grade 2 listed building which causes some difficulties. The conference room is often used for wedding ceremonies, so it is worth considering this if you are attending/having a wedding here and have guests who will struggle with stairs. You can however also have the ceremony in the Lakeside Suite on the first floor.
Lift
There is a platform lift which leads up the first flight of stairs to the hotel rooms, the lift must be operated by a member of staff. There is a red phone which you can use to call reception next to the lift, or you can call from your rooms and somebody will come up and assist you. The lift is large enough for a wheelchair, but not for somebody to assist in the lift whilst operating. There is a weight limit of 225g so not suitable for large, heavy wheelchairs/scooters.
Toilets
There are two accessible toilets located in the hotel, one just past reception to the left and one in the Lakeside Suite, the facilities within both of these were all adequate for a wheelchair user apart from soap dispensers being just a little too high in one.
Customer Service
The general manager, Gavin very kindly took the time out of his day to show us around the hotel and answered all of our questions.
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Recommended Venues, Restaurants
Bella Italia | 21st March 2017
Parking
There is lots of accessible parking in Gloucester Quays car park you can park here for free for 4 hours with a blue badge.
Accessibility
There is a large accessible double door leading into the venue. The restaurant is all wheelchair accessible. They offer a larger print menu and a braille menu for the visually impaired.
The seating plan is open with quite a few booths. There are plenty of quite corners within the venue. The 4 corners of the restaurant have adjustable speakers, for those wanting a quieter meal. If you require your food to be liquidised they can offer this facility, or if not they are happy for you to bring in your own food.
The lighting is nice and bright in the restaurant and they allow guide dogs into the building.
Toilets
There is an accessible toilet located at the back of the building. The toilet is accessible for wheelchair users. It is large enough for a wheelchair to turn around in safely and there is enough room for a PA or family member to assist a wheelchair user. The toilet has a handrail for both transfer sides. The sink, hand dryer and toilet paper dispenser are all accessible for wheelchair users.
Customer Service
The staff members were extremely friendly, very kind and well mannered. Dan the manager, was so lovely and helpful and he made our visit even more enjoyable. He was more than happy to take the time out of his day to answer our questions.
by Christian Drewitt | Attraction, Gloucester, Leisure, Recommended Venues
Nature in Art | 7th April 2017
Parking
There is accessible parking located at the front of the building for three cars.
Accessibility
There is a ramp leading into the front of the building making it easy for wheelchair users. You enter straight into the gift shop with a gallery to your right hand side. There is plenty of space to get about in a wheelchair.
There are three galleries within the building, two of which are upstairs. To access these galleries upstairs, there is a lift available on the ground floor. There is a ramp leading outside into the beautiful gardens, there is no gravel or path around the garden but it is easily accessible for wheelchair users especially during the summer months. Any carer with a disabled member has free entry.
There is an education centre located at the back of the gardens, they have art courses and activity days held here.
Lift
The lift is wheelchair accessible but is rather small, therefore, not large enough for a wheelchair to turn around in or enough space for a PA or family member to assist a wheelchair user. This would not be suitable for somebody that would need to be supervised to use the lift. The buttons are nice a low and easy to use for somebody that is able to use these.
Toilet
There is a disabled toilet located in the education centre. This is a large wheelchair accessible toilet, with space for a wheelchair to turn around in safely and a family member or PA to assist a wheelchair user. There are handrails for both transfer sides and the sink, hand dryer and toilet paper dispenser are all accessible for wheelchair users.
Café
There is access to the coffee shop through the main building, or you can access the coffee shop using the ramp outside. The coffee shop is wheelchair accessible with an open seating plan. They offer A4 size menus for the visually impaired.
They have three special chalk boards located above the counter, for easy viewing.
The lighting in the coffee shop is nice and bright.
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Restaurants
Parking
There is lots of accessible parking in Gloucester Quays car park you can park here for free for 4 hours.
Accessibility
There is an accessible entrance leading into the venue, with a large double door along the side on the building.
There are a lot of tables located around the restaurant. There is one booth located to the right-hand side of the restaurant if you wanted to get away from any noise, although the restaurant wasn’t overly noisy, there was some quiet music playing in the background. There is one long seated booth and a couple quiet corners.
There are a few special chalk boards with menu choices located around the building.
If you require your food to be liquidised they can help with this facility. If not they are happy for you to bring in your own food. They currently don’t offer a larger print menu, a braille menu or a hearing loop.
Toilets
There is an accessible toilet located at the back of the building. There is a ramp needed to access these toilets, the staff will help with accessing and using this ramp.
The toilets are accessible for wheelchair users, it is large enough for a wheelchair to turn around in and large enough for a PA or family member to assist a wheelchair user. The toilet has a handrail for both transfer sides. The sink, hand dryer and toilet paper dispenser are all accessible for wheelchair users.
There is enough lighting, the toilets are nice and clean and safe to use.
Customer Service
The staff are friendly, helpful and well mannered. The manager Ella, took the time out of her day to show us around and answer our questions.
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Leisure, Recommended Venues
GL1 Leisure Centre | 22nd March 2017
Parking
There are 10 accessible parking spaces outside the front of the leisure centre.
Accessibility
There are two large, automatic doors leading into the venue.
For the swimming pool there are designated accessible toilets/changing rooms located on the ground floor. The one has a toilet, handrails for transfer sides and a walk in shower with a seat. The other changing offers exactly the same however, this one also offers a hoist, these changing rooms/toilets require a RADAR key.
The lockers and wristbands are charged at £1 each. This is the same for the ones in the gym. There are two main pools which offer a hoist. A trained member of staff will assist the wheelchair user when using the hoist. The most suitable time to use the pool for somebody with a disability is between 6.30am-9.00am which is the ‘Early Risers’ session and is the quietest time of day.
There are two accessible toilets/changing rooms for the gym, for male and female use. They are located on the first floor. The gym offers facilities to accommodate a wheelchair user and some of the machines in the gym can be operated by a wheelchair user. Once an induction has been completed by a trained member of staff, a PA or family member may assist a wheelchair user in the gym. It is advisable to book in advance for a PT session for a wheelchair user.
Lift
There is a lift located to the right of the building, this will take you up to the gym. The lift is accessible for wheelchair users, it is not large enough for a wheelchair to turn around in but does have enough space for a PA or family member to assist a wheelchair user. The buttons are easy to reach on the outside and on the inside of the lift.
Customer Service
The staff members are very helpful, friendly and well mannered. The manager Chris took the time out of his day to show us around and answer our questions.
Restaurant/Café
The restaurant/café is accessible for wheelchair users, they serve food from 10am until 5pm. The menu choices are all up on the wall on a large board.
by Christian Drewitt | Attraction, Leisure, Tewkesbury
Victoria Pleasure Gardens | 6th June 2018
Parking
Gloucester Road Car Park is right on the doorstep to the gardens. There is only one accessible parking spot, however all the car park is easy to access. Blue badge holders can park for free.
Accessibility
Victoria pleasure gardens is a hidden beauty in Tewkesbury, they are tended to by ‘The Friends of Victoria Pleasure Gardens’ which is a volunteer group who joined together after the 2007 floods to bring life back to the gardens. The Borough Council mow the grass and the volunteers tend to the beautiful flower beds, they also have support from members and local charities to help with the costs.
There are three Archway entrances to the gardens, one from Gloucester Road Car Park, one on Gloucester Road and the last on Mill Street. All the entrances are accessible for wheelchairs, Mill Street being the most uneven of the three, however still manageable.
All the pathways around the gardens are fully accessible, they are nice and wide and the ground is even, the edges are neatly trimmed so it is easy to see. There are benches dotted around the gardens with space on the end of the benches for a wheelchair to sit so that you can sit with somebody who is at a bench. My wheelchair was able to mount the grass from the pathway if you wanted to sit on the grass – perfect for picnics! The gardens aren’t enormous, so don’t expect a day out here, but they are lovely to visit none the less.
You are right on the bank to the River Avon and at the one end to the gardens is the old Tewkesbury Mill and a Weir, there is quite a lot of noise created from the Weir, personally I find this quite relaxing however, others may find this too noisy.
Toilets
There are some public toilets located in Gloucester Road Car Park, there is one accessible toilet which requires a RADAR key. The accessible toilet has handrails for both transfer sides, and the facilities within the toilet are all at a lowered height for a wheelchair user. They are council public toilets, you are required to pay 20p for the standard toilets. Considering they are public toilets, the cleanliness is pretty good. They are cleaned everyday at 6pm.
Customer Service
Rosemary from the friends of Victoria pleasure gardens very kindly took the time out of her day to show us around the gardens and answer all of our questions and talk all about her enthusiasm for the gardens.
by Christian Drewitt | Cheltenham, Restaurants
Boston Tea Party | 1st June 2018
Parking
There is no customer parking but there are four/five designated disabled spots on Clarence Street within 100yds of the café for blue badge holders.
Accessibility
There are manual heavy doors to enter the cafe, there isn’t much space around the café to get around and it is quite small and not very accessible for a wheelchair. The manager Dale advised us that they offer table service if it was difficult for someone in a wheelchair to go and order at the bar, however we were waiting for over 10 minutes before anybody approached us.
Toilets
There is a disabled toilet located at the back of the building, however this is quite difficult to get to in a wheelchair due the lack of space. A customer had to get up off their chair for me to get my wheelchair to the toilet. Once inside the toilet it was good, there was adequate handrails and it was spacious.
Customer Service
Once my PA went up to the bar to notify Dale the manager that we were here, he was very helpful, he came and took our food order and showed us around the café and answered all our questions. He also came over to check if everything with okay with the food.
by Christian Drewitt | Cheltenham, Restaurants
Revolution | 30th May 2018
ParkingÂ
There is no designated customer parking. There is nearby parking on the Promenade, where there are four accessible parking spaces, alternatively there are four/five accessible parking spaces outside the library. Each of these locations is about a 5-minute journey walking or in a wheelchair and you will require a blue badge permit.
Accessibility
There is a singe manual door propped open which has a small sharp lip but the wheelchair was able to get over it. This leads to a set of manual double doors.
There are two floors to the venue, the top floor is inaccessible due to there being no lift. However, everything you need is on the ground floor. The restaurant is on the ground floor but in a raised section up three steps, there is a portable ramp which can be brought out to get up these steps however, this was too steep for my electric wheelchair. This would only be suitable for a manual wheelchair.
There are tables on the lowered section however, they are too tall for a wheelchair user. Due to not being able to sit in the restaurant the staff moved a table down to the bar area for me to sit at and were more than happy to do so.
We visited on a lunchtime and there was some light music playing in the background, in the evening Revolution becomes more of a bar/nightclub and is a popular spot for drinks, therefore the music will be louder.
They currently don’t offer large print or braille menus, however, the manager has requested that we send some information over so they can look into it.
There are some secluded booths however, these are not accessible for a wheelchair. There is no lowered section to the bar however, they offer table service and you can pay at your table.
There is a nice friendly atmosphere in the bar and the drinks and food looks great, they also serve some delicious looking cocktails.
Toilets
There is an accessible toilet located at the back of the building underneath the stairs, a RADAR key is required to access this toilet, there is one to hand in the bar.
There are adequate handrails for transfer and the facilities are all at a lowered height for wheelchairs.
Customer Service
Abby, the assistant manager kindly took the time out of her day to show us around the venue and answer our questions. She brought our drinks over to our table and was very friendly and helpful.
by Christian Drewitt | Attraction, Gloucester, Leisure, Recommended Venues
Sherborne Cinema | 11th May 2018
Parking
There is parking located to the left of the building and there is one disabled spot.
Accessibility
There is a paved ramp leading into the front of the venue and there is a large accessible double door. The ticket booth is located on the left hand side, this is where you can purchase your tickets and also some snacks and drinks.
There is one cinema screen; this is where all the films are shown. The back row has space for three wheelchair users.The aisle is wider than your average cinema and you are welcome to sit on the end of the aisle in your wheelchair if it is a smaller wheelchair, this may be more suitable for somebody with a sight impairment so they can be closer to the screen. It is advisable to turn up early if you are in a wheelchair so the most suitable. It Is advisable to turn up early if you are in a wheelchair so the most suitable seat for you can be found before everybody else arrives.
They also offer headphones for the blind, this facility offers audio description through the headphones and guide dogs are welcome into the building.
There is a small porch over the main entrance to the cinema, this was added for sound proof. It makes it a little tight getting into the cinema.
Toilets
The toilets are on the right hand side of the building, the disabled toilet or ‘easy access toilet’ as Mark has called it, is at the end of the corridor on the left. The toilet is big enough for somebody to assist a wheelchair user and has suitable hand rails for transferring, The sink, hand dryer and toilet paper dispenser are all at a suitable lowered height.
Customer Service
Mark is an extremely friendly gentleman who has an obvious passion for film and has done a great job at keeping the traditional and personal touch within his cinema, it was a pleasure to meet him and I look forward to many more cinema trips in the future.
https://www.sherbornecinema.co.uk/programme Take a look at the website for up to date programme times
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Restaurants
Dr Fosters | 11th May 2018
Parking
There is accessible parking located at the Herbert Warehouse or the Gloucester Docks car park where you can park for 3 hours for free with a blue badge, these spaces can be often be filled during busy times so you can also park in the Quays car park which isn’t far to walk or travel by wheelchair.
Accessibility
There are a set of stairs leading down to the entrance or a paved ramp to the left hand side, which leads to a large accessible double door. The restaurant is wheelchair accessible and the seating plan is open with lots of space and accessible tables. There are plenty of booths and quiet corners if you’d like to be out of the way.
There is an outdoor area with some benches which looks out onto the waterfront which is pleasant, there are some stairs leading out of the conservatory outdoors so this is only accessible for a wheelchair by going round the outside of the building via the front entrance. The staff are happy to show you round and help bring drinks over in this instance. The lower part to the conservatory is also accessible.
There is no lowered section of the bar which could make it a little difficult for wheelchair users to order drinks at the bar, especially if it is busy. You also need to place your food and drink order at the bar, which isn’t entirely obvious. They don’t offer a larger print menu or braille menu for the visually impaired or a hearing loop.
The lighting within the restaurant is nice and bright, there is quiet music playing in the background. They also allow guide dogs.
Toilets
There is a accessible toilet located to the left hand side as you enter the building. The toilet is wheelchair accessible, it is not large enough for a wheelchair to turn around in but there is enough room for a family member or PA to assist a wheelchair user. There are handrails for both transfer sides. The sink, hand dryer and toilet paper dispenser are all accessible for wheelchair users.
by Christian Drewitt | Attraction, Gloucester, Recommended Venues
Gloucester Guildhall | 2nd May 2018
Parking
You can enter the Guildhall directly from the Kings Walk car park, which is free after 6pm. You can park in here for up to 3 hours with a blue badge but you do need to complete an application form to get the electronic tag. To enter the building via the car park there is a steel ramp.
Accessibility
If you’re not entering the Guildhall via the Kings Walk car park, the main entrance is on Eastgate street. There is a singular automatic door and straight away steps leading up to the box office on level 1 or a lift which has access to all floors. All of the hallways across the venue are nice and wide and easy to navigate with a wheelchair. Considering the Guildhall is an old building, which is often where accessibility issues can be found, the accessibility across the venue is very good – wide entrances, hallways and big rooms.
The Guildhall monitor how many wheelchair users are in the building at the same time, due to the fact it is all above the ground floor. The maximum capacity is 8 people as this is the amount of wheelchairs they can get out of the building safely in the case of an emergency.
Guide dogs are allowed in the building.
Box Office
The box office is on the first floor and has a low reception point which makes it easy for a wheelchair user to communicate with staff on reception.
Cinema
The cinema is on the second floor, the main entrance for the cinema is down a small flight of stairs which is accessible via a platform lift and then up another platform lift to get into the cinema. There is a rear entrance to the cinema which cuts out the stairs, a member of staff will be happy to open this for you as it will be easier and quicker than using the platform lifts.
If you are in a wheelchair it is advisable to arrive a little earlier than the showing time for the film so that you can find the most suitable position for you. All of the seats within the cinema can be moved so you can sit wherever you prefer.
The Hall
There is a large entertainment hall which is on the second floor, to get to the hall you are required to use the door lift and the platform lift. The hall is used for concerts and gigs etc. There is tiered seating which can be folded away or extend across the hall it is large but would still be an intimate gig.
If the gig was standing it may be a little overcrowded and busy for someone in a wheelchair as there are no cornered off sections or anywhere specifically for disabled people. If it was seated the tiered seating would be inaccessible for a wheelchair but there would be plenty of space at the front.
There is a refuge point just behind the hall in case of an emergency where the emergency services will collect people in need of help, there is a flight of stairs leading to the refuge point which is a fire exit/staff only.
Café
The café is located on the second floor which is accessible via the door lift and platform lift, there is a wide entrance into the café, the tables are suitable for my wheelchair to fit under and the walkways are nice and wide. There is also a lower section to the bar on the righthand side. The menus are nice and light however, they don’t offer a larger print menu. The café uses local and fresh produce and can accommodate for vegan and gluten free.
Studio / Meeting Rooms
There is a studio room with a mirrored wall that can be used for dance lessons, there are also several meeting rooms of different sizes across the venue that can be hired out for meetings, events, conferences etc. Each of the rooms have a wide entrance and are easy to get in and out of.
Customer Service
Chris kindly showed us around the venue at short notice and gave us lots of information about the venue. On other occasions when I have visited the Guildhall all of the staff have been polite and helpful
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Lift
The door lift to all floors is easy to use and large enough for my wheelchair and somebody to assist, although a slight squeeze. However it is not large enough to turn around in. The buttons are a low height and nice and big so easy to use.
There are two platform lifts on the second floor, there is a sign to ask a staff member for help but they were easy to use.
Toilet
There are three disabled toilets in the building, two on the second floor and one of the third floor. The toilet on the third floor is a little cramped so a large wheelchair user may find it easier to use one of the toilets on the second floor. However, it still had ramps for a left and right hand transfer and the sink and other facilities were all at a lowered height.
Both toilets on the second floor are larger and again all facilities at an appropriate height.
by Christian Drewitt | Attraction, Gloucester, Recommended Venues
Museum of Gloucester | 2nd May 2018
Parking
There are two accessible parking spaces located outside the building with two drop kerbs to get off the road however, these are hard to access once parked in the accessible spaces, you have to go along the road until the end where there is a drop kerb. There is also St Michaels Square car park close by where you can use your blue badge for 3 hours free parking.
Accessibility
There is a ramp leading into the venue, with a large accessible automatic double door. The reception point is on the right-hand side, as you enter the building. There is a lower section of the reception desk for wheelchair access. There is plenty of space to move a wheelchair around. There are lots of easy access things to see within the lower ground floor. There are also listening options with easy to reach buttons for wheelchair users. Every part of the downstairs floor is accessible, with easy to go through arches for wheelchairs.
There is another floor which is accessible via the lift and plenty of space to move around on the first floor with lots to see and look at. There are also two art galleries located on the first floor. This is all accessible and easy to view from a wheelchair.
Café / Gift Shop
There is a self-service café located on the ground floor. There is a selection of hot drinks available and cold drinks in the fridge. The seating plan is open with lots of space for wheelchair users and accessible tables. There are also a couple of quiet corners.
There is also a fantastic little gift shop with lots of gadgets, books and memorabilia.
Customer Service
All the staff at the museum are extremely friendly and helpful. Angela took the time out of her day to show us around and answer our questions.
Lift
There is a lift located at the back of the building, which will take you up to first floor. The lift is accessible for wheelchairs, there is a double sided door so you drive into the lift and drive out the other side.
It is not large enough for a wheelchair to turn around in but there is room for a family member or PA to assist the wheelchair user. The buttons are easy to reach for somebody in a wheelchair and easy to use.
There is an Evac chair available at the top of the stairs, in case of emergencies.
Toilet
There are two accessible toilets on the ground floor, they aren’t large enough for a wheelchair to turn around in but they are large enough for somebody to assist. There are handrails for right and left hand transfer, the sink and hand dryer are at an appropriate height for a wheelchair however, the toilet paper dispenser and soap dispenser are a little high. The toilets are part of the public toilet scheme and are kept nice and clean.
by Christian Drewitt | Cheltenham, Hotels, Recommended Venues
Jurys Inn – Cheltenham | 27th April 2018
Parking
There are six accessible parking spaces located right at the front of the building with easy access into the hotel. There was also one accessible parking space in the rear car park close to the leisure centre. Once checked in it is easier to gain access via the leisure club entrance as it is closer to the hotel rooms and the same level, so you can avoid the platform lift to save time. The hotel can reserve you a space in the rear car park if requested.
Customer Service
The general manager, Peter Hendry kindly took the time out of his busy day to show me around the facilities in the hotel. He gave me lots of useful information and was very polite and friendly. All other staff in the hotel were well dressed and well mannered.
Accessibility
There is a paved entrance into the hotel with a small slope up to the automatic double doors and a lowered reception point. Most of the rooms in the hotel are accessible via the lift however, there are two specific rooms for disabled guests on the ground floor, each with wide doors to access the rooms.
There is one double and one twin accessible room, both with wider door entrances. The double is the larger of the two with a larger bathroom. Both bathrooms have accessible shower seats which are mounted on the wall under the shower, lots of handrails and everything in the bathroom is at a low height.
Within the hotel they offer a vibrating pillow and flashing alarm system for the deaf in the case of an emergency, if you notify the receptionists of any specific needs upon arrival they will also come and assist you to ensure your safety in an emergency.
Guide dogs are allowed into the building.
Restaurant and Café / Meeting Rooms
There is a restaurant and café area on the ground floor, both have plenty of tables for wheelchairs to fit comfortably underneath. The café is open to members of the public, there are often people having business meetings within the café, they offer table service and you can pay at your table by cash or card.
The restaurant is more for the hotel guests, the food is served as a ‘help yourself’ buffet, which would be difficult for somebody in a wheelchair, but the staff will bring the food over to your table if required.
There are also a number of meeting rooms that can be hired out for private business meetings or functions, these are all accessible for wheelchairs.
Toilet
There is an accessible toilet located between the reception area and the café, the facilities within the toilet are good, there were handrails for right and left-hand transfer and everything was within reach for a wheelchair user. They were also nice and clean.
Lift
There is a lift which takes you up to more hotel rooms, I was able to fit my wheelchair in and my PA was able to fit in too, but it was tight. All of the facilities however are on the first floor as well as a large number of hotel rooms so the lift isn’t a necessity for a wheelchair user staying in the hotel.
There are also two platform stairs lifts to get up and down the small sets of stairs which lead down from the café to the hotel rooms, meeting rooms and leisure club. These both worked efficiently and the staff are happy to help with operating them.
by Christian Drewitt | Cheltenham, Recommended Venues, Restaurants
Brewhouse & Kitchen | 7th March 2018
Parking
The Brewhouse & Kitchen is located in Cheltenham Brewery quarter therefore there is no specific customer parking. There is an NCP car park just opposite the premises, they do offer disabled spaces however, they don’t offer discounted or free parking for blue badge holders. There is some on street pay and display just outside the brewery as well as double yellow lines to park on if you have a blue badge.
Accessibility
There are large, manual, double doors to enter the building with a flat entrance. The doors are quite heavy.
I visited on a week day at lunch time so it was fairly quiet and I found my own table to sit at, in the evening a staff member would show you to a table. Most of the venue is on the ground floor and is all accessible for a wheelchair apart from a small upstairs area with a few extra tables.
When walking into the bar/restaurant you are greeted with the smell of beer brewing. There was some quiet music playing in the background and it was nice and bright within the building. There are quite a few tables in the restaurant that are not suitable for a wheelchair, for example raised benches and barrels which have been converted into tables which add to the brewhouse effect. There are however, still plenty of tables that are suitable for a wheelchair and I made sure I was able to fit underneath several of them comfortably.
They do not offer braille or large print menus for the visually impaired and do not offer hearing loops for the deaf but the staff are willing to help read through the menu with you.
The restaurant is open plan and there aren’t any secluded booths but there a few quieter corners if you wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle.
The fire exit is up a few raised stairs so could cause difficulty for an electric wheelchair.
There is no lowered section to the bar so would be difficult for a wheelchair user to pay at the bar, however you are able to pay at the table by card or cash.
Customer Service
My PA went up to the bar to order our drinks, the gentleman serving was very polite, helpful and friendly and bought our drinks over to our table. He helped move the furniture, so I could fit my wheelchair under a table and also answered all of my extra questions for the assessment.
Toilets
There is a disabled toilet located on the righthand side of the bar. The toilet was nice and spacious inside with plenty of room for my wheelchair.
There were handrails to transfer and the sink, soap dispenser and hand dryer were all at a lowered height for wheelchair user.
There were some sanitary bins in the toilet and they were in the corner of the room and out of the way.
A RADAR key is required for the door
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Recommended Venues, Restaurants
Côte Brasserie | 17th January 2018
Parking
The restaurant is located in Gloucester quays, therefore there is ample accessible parking in Gloucester Quays or Gloucester Docks car park.
Accessibility
There is a flat entrance with a wide manual door leading into the restaurant. There were plenty of tables I was able to fit my wheelchair underneath comfortably.
They don’t offer larger print or braille menus and the regular menus are very small print so no good for somebody with a visual impairment. The staff are very helpful and would read this out for you if requested.
The restaurant is open plan and there are no secluded booths, there was quiet music playing in the background.
The walkways through the restaurant were all wide enough to navigate my wheelchair through.
Customer Service
The service I received was excellent, the waiter held the door open for me upon arrival and gave me a choice of any table. The waitress that took our order was very helpful and the food was served quickly.
Toilets
The accessible t​oilet is located at the back of the building, the door is behind a curtain. The staff showed me to the toilet and held the curtain and door open for me.
The toilet was very spacious inside, the lighting was good and it was nice and clean.
The sink, toilet paper dispenser and hand dryer were all at a reasonable height for a wheelchair user.
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Restaurants
Janes Pantry | 10th January 2018
Parking
Janes Pantry is located in the town centre therefore there is no customer parking. The nearest car park is Kings Walk which has plenty of accessible parking.
Accessibility
There was a wide manual door on the righthand side of the café, there were plenty of tables that were suitable to fit a wheelchair underneath however, the aisles between the tables were quite narrow. This made getting to the counter quite difficult as they don’t offer table service.
The seated area is all open and there are no secluded booths. All the menus are on a board so this is difficult for somebody who has a visual impairment.
Customer Service
The service received was average, my drink was served quickly however the staff could have been more accommodating for a wheelchair user.
Toilets
The accessible toilet is located at the back of the building, this isn’t that easy to get to due to the narrow aisles within the café. The turning point into the toilet through the door is also quite tight.
The facilities within the toilet are all fine there are handrails for a left and right-hand transfer and the sink and toilet paper dispenser were both at a reasonable height for a wheelchair user but the hand dryer was too high.
The toilets were nice and clean.
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Recommended Venues, Restaurants
Coffee Lab | 15th December 2017
Parking
The Coffee Lab is located in Gloucester Docks, there are plenty of accessible parking spaces either in the Gloucester Docks car park or the Gloucester Quays car park. These are both a short distance to walk to the restaurant.
Accessibility
The Coffee Lab café is located within the restaurant the Grillshed, please read the full review here to read about accessibility and toilets within Coffee Lab/Grill Shed.
You can also order drinks to takeaway.
Customer Service
I was served by the manager Jack who was very welcoming and friendly our drinks were served quickly and efficiently.
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Recommended Venues, Restaurants
Grill Shed | 5th April 2017
Parking
The Grill Shed is located in Gloucester Docks, there are plenty of accessible parking spaces either in the Gloucester Docks car park or the Gloucester Quays car park. These are both a short distance to walk to the restaurant.
 Restaurant
There is a large accessible entrance leading into the venue.
The staff members are all very friendly, well-mannered and helpful. Jody took the time out of his day to answers our questions.
They currently don’t offer a larger print menu or braille menu for the visually impaired however, these have been ordered and are coming soon.
They do however offer a gluten free menu, a blender if you require your food to be liquidised and a baby bottle warming facility.
The seating plan is open, with plenty of booths and quiet corners. There is quiet music playing in the background.
The restaurant lighting is nice and bright.
They allow guide dogs in to the building.
Toilets
There is an accessible ​toilet located at the back of the building. There is a ramp leading up to the toilet, this will take you down a corridor. The lighting is quite dim down the corridor.
The toilet is wheelchair accessible and is just large enough for a wheelchair to turn around in safely. There is enough room for a PA or family member to assist a wheelchair user.
The toilet has handrails for both transfer sides.
The sink and toilet paper dispenser are accessible for wheelchair users. However, the hand dryer is slightly too high for a wheelchair user. The lighting is nice and bright, the toilets are clean.
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Hotels, Recommended Venues
Ibis | 28th November 2017
Parking
There are six accessible​ parking spaces located right at the front of the building with easy access into the hotel.
Customer Service
Shanique was very helpful and happy to show me around one of the accessible rooms. The hotel staff had to find a clean room for me to take a look at and this was no bother for them.
Accessibility
There is a flat entrance with a large automatic door into the reception area. The reception point was quite high with no low access point but the staff came round to speak with us.
Most of the rooms in the hotel are accessible due to the lift and they’re all quite spacious but there are seven specific accessible rooms with the large wet room and handrails for assistance with transfers, they also have a deaf guard facility. The room that I viewed was on the third floor, this was easy to get to in the lift.
The wet room and the bedroom are both very big and easy to navigate around. The bed was low down and not too high to make it easy to transfer from a wheelchair.
They also offer a vibrating pillow for the deaf in case of emergency.
Restaurant/Café
There was a café area on the ground floor near to the reception which was fully accessible. The restaurant is open from 6am until 10pm and the bar is open until midnight.
Lift
All floors can be accessed via the lift, the lift was large enough for the hotel assistant, my PA and I to all use at the same time. However, it was too small for me to turn the wheelchair around in. The lift buttons were all easy to reach for a wheelchair user
by Christian Drewitt | Attraction, Gloucester, Leisure
16th November 2017 – 24th December 2017
I visited the Christmas market at Gloucester Quays where there are lots of nice stalls selling Christmas items and food. It is a great atmosphere and I would recommend a visit. There is also an ice rink next to the market, read about it here!
Parking
There are plenty of accessible parking spaces located in the Quays car park where you can park for free for up to four hours with a blue badge. It is about a five minute journey in a wheelchair from the car park down to the ice rink. Read Gloucester Quays parking review here
Accessibility
The accessibility around the market was good and I was able to access all areas in my wheelchair. All of the stalls were accessible and I was able to view the items on sale. Some of them were quite high but the stall assistants were happy to come round and help if required.
There are a few ramps around the market to help you get around and leading up to the two bar areas.
Toilets
There are some temporary portable toilets with an accessible toilet however, the facilities in the toilet weren’t great and it was very small. There are also the toilets inside the Gloucester Quays shopping centre which have excellent disabled facilities. Read my full review here
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Restaurants
Hubble Bubble | 15th November 2017
Parking
The café is located on Westgate street therefore there is no customer parking but there are plenty of public car parks around the city centre. I parked in the Ladybellgate street car park which is about a five minute journey in a wheelchair.
Accessibility
There is a flat entrance leading into the building with a wide accessible door. The café area was quite cramped and it was hard for me to find a suitable table for my wheelchair. They don’t operate by table service and you are required to order at the counter which wasn’t easy to get to if you are a wheelchair user.
Customer Service
The staff were friendly and polite but perhaps could have offered more help to assist someone in a wheelchair.
Toilets
There is no disabled toilet within the building.
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Restaurants
18th October 2017
Parking and accessibility
Caffé Nero is located in Gloucester Docks just outside The Quays shopping centre.
There is good access to the building with a flat entrance and double doors leading into the venue.
There are lots of accessible parking spaces located in The Quays car park, where you can park for free for up to four hours with a blue badge. Take the parking ticket and blue badge with you to the Customer Service desk in the mall where you will be given an exit ticket.
Cafe
The venue was spacious and there were plenty of tables I could fit my wheelchair underneath but there were no secluded booths or quieter areas.
The counter was high and it was difficult to order my own drink or pay for it due to being in a wheelchair.
The staff were polite and friendly.
Toilets
There is one accessible toilet which is located at the back of building.
The toilet was very tight for space – there wasn’t a lot of room for my PA to assist.
The toilet paper dispenser was also a little high but the handrails, sink and soap dispenser were all at a reasonable height for a wheelchair user.
The lock on the toilet door was insecure, when I bumped against the door in my wheelchair due to the lack of space in the toilet, this caused the lock to open accidently which wasn’t very private.
Accessibility Rating
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Recommended Venues, Restaurants
18th October 2017
Parking and accessibility
The Lord High Constable of England is located in Gloucester Docks on the waterside.
There is good accessibility to the building with a flat entrance and double doors leading into the venue.
There are lots of accessible parking spaces located in The Quays car park, where you can park for free for up to four hours with a blue badge. Take the parking ticket and the blue badge with you to customer service desk in the mall where you will be given an exit ticket.
Wetherspoons don’t operate via table service you are to place your order at the bar on arrival and then find your own table. The customer service I received at the bar was good, the staff were polite and friendly and the service was reasonably quick.
Restaurant
The venue is very spacious and there are plenty of seating areas suitable for wheelchairs. There are secluded booths if you need to get away from the noise.
Wetherspoons also have a service which allows you to download an app on your phone and you can order food this way rather than queuing at the bar. This is very useful for the disabled, deaf and non-verbal.
Toilets
There is one accessible toilet which is located close to the entrance. This requires a RADAR key. The toilet was adequate with enough room for a family member or PA to assist.
The toilet has handrails for both transfer sides. The sink, hand dryer and toilet paper dispenser were all accessible for a wheelchair user.
Accessibility Rating
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Transport
2nd August 2017
My overall experience of travelling in a wheelchair from Gloucester Train Station was good. The Station Master, Mike, was helpful from start to finish and advised me on how I could contact the Assisted Travel helpline. The train station and the trains are kept clean, tidy and safe to ensure a pleasant journey.
Accessibility
I called the Assisted Travel helpline a few days ahead of my journey to inform them of my requirements.
Once I got to the train station I informed the station master of my arrival. He advised me which platform my train was departing from. As the train was arriving, the station guard approached to assist me. Then he laid out the ramp and helped me on the train safely. There was a designated area for wheelchair users on the train to sit comfortably. I received the same good service when exiting the train at the other end.
There are four accessible parking spaces at the train station. However, the parking and entrance leading up to the station are the biggest downfall. The accessible parking is located on the far side of the car park and you have to cross the busy and uneven car park with no walkway.
There are two large, wide, automatic doors leading into the train station with a flat entrance. There was an easy access, low reception point where I was able to purchase my train ticket easily. There was a large electronic ticketed gate for an electric or manual wheelchair to fit through.
There was a lift to all platforms, it was large enough for my PA and me. It was also large enough for me to turn around safely in my wheelchair. The buttons for the lift are all at a height that I could reach from my wheelchair. There was a speaker inside and outside the lift to notify you of the doors opening and closing and the lift going up or down. Exiting the lift leads you to a wide footbridge which leads you over the train lines, safely to the other platforms.
All walkways are wide and there are also easy access, indoor waiting rooms.
With the loud noise of passing trains this may not be suitable for people that don’t like loud noises.
Toilets
There were two accessible toilets, one located in the male toilets and one in the female. The facilities in both were good. However, this was not ideal as my female PA would have to enter the male toilets to assist me.
There are handrails for both transfer sides. The sink and soap dispenser are both accessible for a wheelchair user but the hand dryer was too high.
There was a workable lock on the door therefore this doesn’t require a RADAR key. There was good lighting and they were clean and safe to use.
Café
There was a small café serving hot, cold drinks and sandwiches. This was located just inside the entrance to the Train Station. There were two accessible double doors and there were small round tables suitable for a wheelchair user.
There were no menus as such therefore no larger print or braille menus.
Accessibility Rating
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Recommended Venues, Restaurants
21st June I visited Pizza Hut, Eastern Avenue.
Parking
There are two accessible parking spaces located at the front of the building.
There is a flat entrance leading into the venue with a large accessible, double door.
All the staff members were very helpful, friendly and well mannered. Our waitress was fantastic from start to finish and answered any of our questions.
Toilets
There are accessible toilets located at the back of the building.
They are accessible for wheelchair user and there is enough room for a wheelchair to turn around safely.There is enough room for a family member or PA to assist a wheelchair user.
The toilet has handrails for both transfer sides. The sink, hand dryer and toilet paper dispenser are all accessible for wheelchair users.
The toilet doesn’t require a RADAR key.
The lighting is nice and bright, the toilets are nice and clean and safe to use.
Restaurant
The restaurant is accessible for wheelchair users. The restaurant has an open plan seating area and lots of accessible tables.
There is a raised area of steps which is inaccessible by wheelchair users, however there is still plenty of easy access.
There are lots of booths and quiet corners to get away from the hustle and bustle.
The restaurant offer a larger print menu and braille menu for the visually impaired but they don’t offer a hearing loop for the deaf.
The menus are nice and light.
There is a moderate level of background music. This will get louder if the restaurant is full.
They allow all service dogs into the building.
Accessibility Rating
by Christian Drewitt | Attraction, Cheltenham, Recommended Venues
17th June 2017
There are two accessible parking spaces located at the front of the building.
There is a flat entrance leading into the venue with large accessible double doors.
Once inside, you go through a set of accessible double doors to enter the museum.
Attraction
Once inside there is a large open space which is all completely accessible.
There are lots of planes and little bits of information that you can get up close and personal with. I could drive my wheelchair right up to any of these displays with no trouble.
Outside there are some planes that are open for the public to go in and sit in. However these are inaccessible for wheelchair users due to the gravelled ground leading up to the planes.Â
There is a possibility of them looking into getting a third seat at the back one of the Harrier planes. Then this will make the plane accessible for wheelchair users. Watch this space for an update!
Toilets
There are accessible toilets located to the right as you enter the building.
These are accessible for wheelchair users. There isn’t quite enough room for a wheelchair to turn around safely. There is room for a family member or PA to assist a wheelchair user.
There are handrails for both transfer sides. The sink and toilet paper dispenser are both accessible for a wheelchair user. The hand dryer is a little too high for a wheelchair user.
The toilet doesn’t require a RADAR key.
The lighting in the toilet nice and bright. The toilets are nice and clean and safe to use.
Café
There is a café to the left as you enter the building. This is accessible for wheelchair users.
There are lots of tables that you can fit a wheelchair underneath.
Accessibility Rating
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Restaurants
13th June 2017
There is accessible parking located at Westgate Street Car and Coach Park.
There is a cobbled street leading up to the venue. This is quite uncomfortable for anyone in an electric wheelchair but navigable.
There is a flat entrance leading into the venue. This has a very narrow door, but it is accessible.
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Inside there are tables and booths however, I couldn’t fit my wheelchair underneath any of them.
There are tables located outside which are a bit more accessible.
Unfortunately there are no accessible toilets located in the building.
Accessibility Rating
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Restaurants
7th June 2017
There is accessible parking located at Westgate Street Car and Coach Park.
There is a flat entrance leading into the venue with a wide, accessible single door.
 
All the staff members were very helpful, friendly and well mannered.
Nicola took the time out of her day to answer our questions.
Toilets
There is a accessible toilet located at the back of the back of the building. This toilet is accessible for a wheelchair user and surprisingly modern for a very old building – well done, Hedleys!
It is not large enough for a wheelchair to turn around in safely. There is room for a family member or PA to assist a wheelchair user. It was quite a tight squeeze and a little hard work to use the toilet, due to the space but they have made the effort to provide the facility.
The toilet has handrails for both transfer sides. The sink, paper towel dispenser and toilet paper dispenser are all accessible for wheelchair users.
The toilet doesn’t require a RADAR key.
The lighting is nice and bright and the toilets are nice and clean and safe to use.
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The coffee shop is accessible for wheelchair users, there is plenty of seating inside for wheelchair users and also tables outside the front which are also accessible.
They currently don’t offer a larger print menu or a braille menu for the visually impaired. They also do not offer a hearing loop for the deaf. This is something they are looking into.
The current menu is on a clipboard so a little heavy and awkward to hold.
There is a large chalk board above the till stating which coffees they offer. This is nice and large and easy to see.
The coffee shop lighting is nice and bright. They also allow guide dogs into the building.
Accessibility Rating
by Christian Drewitt | Attraction, Gloucester
12th June 2017
There is accessible parking located at the Westgate Car and Coach Park.
There is a long, cobbled road leading up to the entrance of the venue.
Parts of this can be very uncomfortable if you are in a wheelchair but it is a beautiful place to visit, so worth the effort!
At the moment, the Cathedral is undergoing some construction work. This is to make the venue more accessible in the future.
Once inside the Cathedral the space is very large and open and accessible to anybody who is in a wheelchair.
Once you enter the Nave you can turn right and go down the South Aisle. This will lead you up to a ramp which will take you further into the South Transept. This is as far as you can go with being in a wheelchair.
If you go along the North Aisle there is another ramp leading to the North Transept.
There is currently construction work going on in the North Transept. They are putting in an accessible lift which will make the rest of the Cathedral more accessible.
The corridors inside, famous for being a set in The Harry Potter movies, go around in a square and each area of this is completely accessible.
These are called the West Walk, East Walk, North Walk and South Walk. Please be aware that in parts, the lighting can be quite dim.
From the East Walk you are able to get outside into the gardens. These are called Cloister Garth.
These are accessible for wheelchair users however, I didn’t get the chance to go outside due to the weather.
The coffee shop and toilets are located to the left hand side in the first corridor.
The accessible toilet is on the left hand side – it is accessible for wheelchair users. It is not quite large enough for a wheelchair to turn around safely. There is space for a PA or family member to assist a wheelchair user.
The toilet has handrails for both transfer sides. The sink, hand dryer and toilet paper dispenser are all accessible for wheelchair users.
The toilet doesn’t require a RADAR key.
The lighting is nice and bright. The toilets are nice and clean and safe to use.
There is a lift which will take you down to the coffee shop; this is a single lift only large enough for the wheelchair user.
There are easy to reach buttons on the inside of the lift, for self- operation. Or there are buttons on the wall upstairs and downstairs for a PA or family member to operate the lift.
Once down and out of the lift, you follow the corridor along to find the coffee shop.
There is an outside seating area however, this has a step so care is required by the wheelchair user.
The café has plenty of seating which is accessible for wheelchair users, the café offers teas, coffee and a good selection of light lunches and cakes.
Accessibility Rating
by Christian Drewitt | Leisure, London
Today, 25th April 2017, I was invited to meet Richard Graham, my local MP for Gloucester at the Houses of Parliament in Westminster.
I had been invited by my employer at the time, Jason Smith, chief executive of Marketing Gloucester, to discuss the details of my role as Disability Access Assessor and my progress within Marketing Gloucester. We also took the opportunity to assess the accessibility of the Houses of Parliament which was a very interesting experience.
On arrival, we started our journey at 1 Parliament Street. Once we’d got through the rigorous security process and collected our visitor ID badges, we made our way through the corridor where we were greeted by Megan Trethewey.
We then took the lift up to meet Richard Graham and we were also introduced to Charlotte Farrow, Policy Officer, Disability Issues for the Department of Work and Pensions. Charlotte took the time out of her day to discuss her job role and offer any advice and help she could, to support my project.
We discussed with Richard Graham what it is involved in my job role. I explained to him that I’m working as the Disability Access Assessor for Marketing Gloucester and my brief is to create an Accessible Disability Guide for the city of Gloucester, by visiting local tourist attractions, venues, facilities etc.
After our discussion we started the tour of the Houses of Parliament.
We left 1 Parliament Street and made our way down the lift to Portcullis House. The lift was completely accessible and had braille buttons for the visually impaired.
The stunning glass-roofed Portcullis House was completely accessible for wheelchair users. We were able to meet the then current MPs. I discussed my project with them and what my plans are for the future, hopefully to expand and provide assessment of other cities around the UK.
Matt Hancock
Nick Watts from Newsnight
Rob Wilson, Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for Civil Society
Royston Smith & Chris Green
Graham Brady
We then took the lift down to make our way to the Palace of Westminster. We used the tunnel that connects with the underground station, which was completely accessible, however, the lighting was extremely dim, which would be difficult for somebody who is visually impaired.
We met a few more people along the way, all busy with their occupations but taking the time to talk to me.
Kate Green, then MP for Stretford and Urmston.
Marcus Fysh, then MP for Yeovil and South Somerset.
Alok Sharma (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Minister for Asia and Pacific)
& Mark Garnier (Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Department for International Trade)
Once inside Westminster Hall it was clearly extremely accessible. It has a large open space and it was no trouble for a wheelchair to get around on the flag-stoned floor.
Also, as you enter to the right of the building there are wheelchairs for visitors to borrow if necessary.
We made our way to the back of the Hall in order to access the Central Lobby.
Here we met Frederick the Doorkeeper who showed us where to go next.
We had to walk outside and up the ramp to be able to get into the next part of the building. There are more lifts to take you up to the Central Lobby, this is all completely accessible.
The House of Lords and the Committee Rooms are all also accessible.
St Stephen’s Hall was the only place that we came across that was inaccessible within the Central Lobby.
The outside terrace is also accessible, with a ramp leading out to it and has beautiful views of both the River Thames and the London Eye.
There is also clear access to the gift shop and café, with a glass lift leading down to both.
Sincere thanks go to Richard Graham for spending so much time with us to ensure we missed nothing. It was a very successful day and everyone we met was very welcoming, positive and interested in my work.
Accessibility Rating
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Restaurants
31st May 2017
There is accessible parking located at the Westgate Street Car and Coach Park.
There is an accessible entrance into the venue –Â however, the front door is very narrow. So this would be impossible for somebody in a large wheelchair.
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You can sit in the section by the bar at the back of the building.
There is another seating area to the right hand side of the building however, this has a step leading down.
There is also seating available outside the pub on the street.
Toilets
Unfortunately there are no accessible toilets within the building.
They don’t have a larger print menu or braille menu for the visually impaired or a hearing loop for the deaf.
Accessibility Rating
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Restaurants
23rd May 2017
Access
There is accessible parking located at the Gloucester Docks car park or the Gloucester Quays outlet shopping centre.
There is a large accessible double door leading into the venue.
The staff were very helpful, friendly and well mannered.
Toilets
There is an accessible toilet located at the back of the building to the left hand side.
The toilets are accessible for wheelchair users, there is just enough room for a wheelchair to turn around in safely and there is also enough room for a family member or PA to assist a wheelchair user.
There are handrails for both transfer sides.
The sink, hand dryer and toilet paper dispenser are all accessible for wheelchair users.
The toilet doesn’t require a RADAR key.
The lighting in the toilet is nice and bright, the toilets are nice and clean and safe to use.
There are lots of accessible tables both, inside and outside the cafe.
Accessibility Rating
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Restaurants
23rd May 2017
Accessibility Rating
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Restaurants
5th May 2017
There is accessible parking located at the Ladybellegate Street car park, Blackfriars car park or the Longsmith Street car park. Theses are a short walk from the restaurant.
There is a flat entrance leading into the venue with a large accessible double door.
 All the staff members were very helpful and friendly.
Toilets
There is an accessible toilet located to the left at the back of the building.
The toilet is wheelchair accessible, there is enough room for a wheelchair to turn around in safely and enough room for a family member or PA to assist a wheelchair user.
There are handrails for both transfer sides.
The sink, hand dryer and toilet paper dispenser are all accessible for wheelchair users.
The lighting is nice and bright, the toiles are nice and clean and safe to use.
Restaurant
The restaurant is wheelchair accessible. The seating plan is open with lots of tables but no booths.
They don’t offer a larger print menu or braille menu for the visually impaired or a hearing loop for the deaf.
There is music playing in the background which we did find quite loud.
The lighting in the restaurant is nice and bright.
Accessibility Rating
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Restaurants
3rd May 2017
Today I visited Patisserie Valerie.
Due to the Patisserie Valerie coffee shop being located in Gloucester City Centre, the closest accessible parking is located in the Eastgate shopping centre car park.
There is a flat entrance leading into the venue, with a large accessible double door.
Toilets
There is an accessible toilet located at the back building.
The toilet is wheelchair accessible.
It is large enough for a wheelchair to turn around in safely and there is enough room for a family member or PA to assist a wheelchair user.
There are handrails for both transfer sides, however the handrail on the wall is loose. I did inform management and they said that they would be fixing the problem.
Coffee Shop
The coffee shop has lots of tables, quiet corners and long seated booths.
I did struggle with fitting my wheelchair underneath the tables and consequently I had to remove my foot plates.Â
Accessibility Rating
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Restaurants
26th April 2017
There is accessible parking located in the Gloucester Quays outlet shopping centre or at the Gloucester Docks car park, which has 6 accessible parking spaces.
There is a ramp leading from road at The Quays down to the restaurant.
There is quite rough ground leading up to the entrance, this is quite uncomfortable if you are in an electric or manual wheelchair.
There is a flat entrance leading up to the large accessible double door.
Once inside we found out where our reserved table was, after we waited for ten minutes we found out we had to get our own menus from the bar. Due to there not being a dropped section of the bar, this is really difficult for wheelchair users.
I also found this difficult when paying for my food and choosing my choice of drink as I couldn’t see the top of the bar.
I struggled with communication with Tank when trying to organise my visit, I e-mailed a couple of times with no response.
Toilets
There are accessible toilets located at the back of the building.
They are accessible for wheelchair users, there is enough room for a wheelchair to turn around in safely and there is enough room for a family member or PA to assist a wheelchair user.
There are handrails for both transfer sides.
 The sink, paper towel dispenser and toilet paper dispenser are all accessible for wheelchair users.
 The lighting is nice and bright, the toilets are clean and safe to use.
Restaurant
The entrance to restaurant has a very narrow walkway which is not great for a large wheelchair.
There are a number of large tall tables, these are not accessible for wheelchair users.
There are five small tables which are accessible for wheelchair users.
They don’t offer a larger print menu for visually impaired and they don’t offer a hearing loop for the deaf.
The menus that they have are very large, however, the writing is very small.
There are no drinks menus so you have to go to the bar to check out what they have on offer, however there in no lowered section of the bar so this is no good for somebody in a wheelchair.
 There is quiet music playing in the background.
The lighting is nice and bright in the restaurant.
Accessibility Rating
by Christian Drewitt | Attraction, Gloucester, Leisure, Recommended Venues
19th April 2017
There is accessible parking located in the Gloucester Quays Outlet Shopping Centre.
There is a flat entrance leading into the venue with a large accessible double door.
The staff were all friendly and well-mannered, Sam helped to answer any of our questions.
Toilets
There are accessible toilets located on the ground floor, these are accessible for wheelchair users.
There is enough room for a wheelchair to turn around safely.
There is enough room for a family member or PA to assist a wheelchair user.
There are handrails for both transfer sides.
The sink, hand dryer and toilet paper dispenser are all accessible for wheelchair users.
The toilet itself is lower than usual .
The lighting is nice and bright, the toilets are nice, clean and safe to use.
The lower ground floor of the museum is completely accessible for wheelchair users. There are lots of things to view and look at on the lower ground floor.
Lift
There is a lift located on the ground floor which will take you to first floor attractions.
The lift is wheelchair accessible. The lift is not large enough for a wheelchair to turn around in safely. There is enough room for a family member or PA to assist a wheelchair user.
The lift door closes quickly!
The lift has easy to reach buttons and the lighting is nice and bright.
On the first floor there are more attractions to see and do. There is plenty of space for a wheelchair user to get around easily.
Café
There is a small café located on the ground floor. They serve drinks and cakes from 10am until 4.30pm.
There are a few accessible tables and a few more tables located outside.
There is also a small accessible gift shop, selling memorabilia.
Accessibility Rating
by Christian Drewitt | Attraction, Gloucester
4th April 2017
There is accessible parking located at the front of the building. You can fit about 6 cars in the accessible bays.
There is really rough gravel leading from the car park to the entrance, this was quite a bumpy ride in my electric wheelchair.
There is a ramp leading up to the entrance and ticket hut.
Once inside there is a short paved path leading up to more gravel. Once again this gravel is an uncomfortable ride in my electric wheelchair as I imagine it would be in a manual wheelchair.
There is a large tepee erected on the left as you enter the park, this has lots of events going on inside. However, due to a bark surface around the tepee, we couldn’t get across to see inside.
There is a Farm Safari ride, which takes you on a Tractor and Trailer Tour of Adam Henson’s Farm. It is scheduled to depart every hour.
Due to a private party, I didn’t have the chance to have a go on the Safari, however I know that they can accommodate one wheelchair on the ride, with a ramp provided.
The Touch Barn, is a great place where you can experience up close and personal contact with friendly animals, anything from little chicks, rabbits, sheep, chicken’s, pigs and piglets.
The whole barn is completely accessible with large space for a wheelchair to move around in.
We were lucky that at this time of year it’s lambing season. So we entered the lambing barn and got to witness the birth of a few baby lambs.
The barn was wheelchair accessible. It had space around the railings at the bottom so you could see the lambing going on.
You can take on the adventure of the grassed area, to get up close and personal to other farm animals outside. A little uneven but not a problem in dry weather.
I managed to get my electric wheelchair around the grassed area, however, other visitors stated if there was some sort of mesh it would be much easier for wheelchair users to get around.
On this part of the adventure you can hand feed the animals using the parks animal food.
There are also audio posts to tell you about the animals, these have easy to reach buttons.
For the able bodied there is a great Lookout Tower which gives a view of the whole park.
Once you have finished the grassed area you can stop at Dolly’s Snack Bar, for a refreshment of your liking. Unfortunately, it was closed when we visited!
They also have Bouncy Pillows, a Maze and Dolly’s Playpen.
There are accessible toilets located around the back of Dolly’s Playpen.
The is a woodland walk and conservation area, these are both accessible for wheelchair users. The floor is covered in bark on a hard earth surface and it was easy for my electric wheelchair to get around.
There are lots of different things to see in the conservation area and I really enjoyed the woodland walk.
We decided to stop and have lunch there is a ramp leading down to the benched area outside. Unfortunately I couldn’t get my wheelchair underneath any of these tables.
There were suitable tables within the gazebo area, however due to a private school party, I was unable to get in to the room.
After moving a long bench and some shuffling around, I managed to get a table inside the restaurant.
The restaurant is wheelchair accessible, with good bright lighting.
There are accessible toilets located around the back of the restaurant.
These are wheelchair accessible however, very small and hard to manoeuvre in.
I have been informed that these toilets are due a revamp coming soon, to include brand new accessible toilets and shower rooms.
All the staff were extremely kind, well mannered and helpful, we had great help and communication from Jenni.
We were delighted that Adam Henson took the time to say hello!
Disability Rating
by Christian Drewitt | Gloucester, Restaurants
31st March 2017
There is accessible parking located in the Gloucester Quays outlet shopping centre.
There are two large, accessible, double doors leading into the venue.
The staff were friendly and helpful, the manager Roland took the time out of his day to answer our questions.
Toilets
There is an accessible toilet located at the back of the building.
It is accessible for wheelchair users, it is also large enough for a wheelchair to turn around safely and there is enough room for a PA or family member to assist a wheelchair user.
There are handrails for both transfer sides.
The sink, hand dryer and toilet paper dispenser are accessible for wheelchair users.
The lighting is nice and bright, the toilets are nice and clean and safe to use.
Restaurant
The restaurant is wheelchair accessible.
They are open 11.30am until 11pm and 11.30pm Fridays and Saturdays.
They don’t offer a larger print menu or braille menu for the visually impaired or a hearing loop for the deaf.
The seating plan is open with lots of booths and long seated booths.
If you require your food liquidised they can help with this facility.
There is quiet music playing in the background.
The lighting In the restaurant is nice and bright.
They allow guide dogs into the building.
Accessibility Rating
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