Last week I was invited to The Digital Shoreditch Party as a thank you for speaking at the event. It was at the Book Club, Leonard St., Shoreditch and of course I rang in advance re accessibility I was assured that there was no problem although there wan’t a disabled toilet. On arriving with my friendly black cab driver Tim, he got me into the place via 2 steps at the entrance and then another into the bar. Not the ‘flat access’ I was assured of! It was a very trendy place with retro style chairs and tables and my heart lightened when I saw the cocktail list which included a ‘Shoreditch Twat’ – at least they could laugh at themselves (if you look at their photo stream there are plenty fo them). Nearly forgot to say the party wasn’t here it was downstairs via a lift in the next door building which required going down the original steps and up another 2 – it was a bit of a ‘Disaahster’ and I only had time for one drink after all the transfers.
Their sister bar The Queen of Hoxton, has a similar style/vibe, full of “Shoredies” and fun games-tables plus the ubiquitous rooftop bar (inaccessible as up 6 flights of stairs and no lift). It’s spread over 3 floors but only the ground is really accessible. You can access it via a portable ramp to get over 6 steps at the entrance and there is a disabled toilet.They advise ringing in advance to make sure they can find the ramp but apart from that no problem!!
They’ve both got 1.5 BBS Ticks.
I then went for cocktails at one of my favourite venues The Zetter Town House with it’s quirky antiques and Mumford bar staff (see my previous review). I think it was good?? I over compensated for the lack of drink at The Book Club and expensive champagne was consumed. They also have a sister bar which by coincidence I’d decided to review, 69 Colebrooke Row. It’s a small bar in Islington with only 8 tables but it has flat access (no DT though), but I’m intrigued as I think it’s a welcome addition to the Islington scene. It won the ‘World’s Best Cocktail Bar’ in 2010 along with The Bar at the Merchant Hotel, Belfast (also highly rated by BBS).
69 Colebrooke gets 2 provisional BBS Ticks.
On a more sober note the team at BBS Towers were going to do a blog on stylish Wheelchair Accessible Vehicles (WAV’s) but we’ve hit a blank as there only seem to be one or two, so if anyone knows anything different let us know. See you next week in the long awaited heatwave.