When I first started working for Blue Badge Style last year I had never had to think about whether a venue was disabled accessible because fortunately for me long-term physical disabilities have never been part of my life.
After about a month of reviewing restaurants and bars and getting to know the type of obstacles to look out for and the facilities that are important, I began to realize how unfair it is that some places are not accessible for everyone and now I usually rant to my friends or family about how bad the disabled access is at the restaurant we are in.
So I thought I’d give you some tips or things to look out for when reviewing your night out for our Summer Competition!
1. The Main Entrance
When you go to a restaurant the first thing you have to take notice of is obviously, the entrance. Whether there are steps or a ramp, lift or a small doorway. Sometimes restaurants have big heavy doors that are hard to push open or that close on you – always worth taking note of such things. It goes without saying that if a less able person can’t get in to a building, there’s no real need to worry about the ‘issues; within.
2. Alternative Entrances
Some venues don’t have an accessible entrance but will let you in a side entrance or staff entrance or whatever other alternative entrance these venues seem to have.
3. Disabled Toilet
The next important thing to look out for is obviously the disabled toilet! Now you should be specific about this I’m often told “yes we have a disabled toilet…” Here it comes, “but there are no grab bars…” That doesn’t count as a disabled toilet does it? Or there’s the classic Quasis Khasis, “We have a disabled toilet but there is a step into it.” So the point is get specifics of the disabled toilet, sometimes they’re used as storage rooms and you end up doing a 20 point turn, like Fiona on our Wheeled in Chelsea Bar Crawl.
4. Local Facilities
Some places don’t have a disabled toilet but they have an agreement with a nearby pub or restaurant where you would be able to use their toilet if you weren’t a customer. It’s worth finding out if you really want to go somewhere. Lack of a disabled toilet shouldn’t stop you, especially if there is one not so far away.
5. Size Does Matter
It’s all well and good being accessible and having a disabled toilet but if it’s the size of a hamster’s cage it’s going to be difficult to get around in wheelchair or even on sticks. So it’s always worth asking if it’s spacious or if you couldn’t swing a cat in there.
6. Flat Floors
Finding out about interior steps is also a good move in case one part of the bar of the restaurant isn’t accessible or if there is a second floor, no lift and you’ve booked a table up there – ask in advance! Find out and bear in mind that some places might have portable ramps that can be put in place when moving around the restaurant, others just have small lifts inside to get you up and down the steps.
7. Helpful Staff
Basement bars…. ask if staff/security will help carry some one down if needed – quite a few of the basement bars/restaurants I’ve rang have said this without me even having to ask (like Bramble in Edinburgh) but others need prompting! Don’t be hesitant to check this, especially if you are there in person!
8. Gardens
Another thing to look into is whether or not the pub/restaurant garden is accessible. In the summer months who’s going to want to sit inside? So see if there are steps, if it’s a decking or gravel etc.
9. Hand Rails
Stairs, obviously for wheelchair use you’re probably going to need an alternative route, or a few helpful people to carry you but for those on sticks or with walking frames finding out about whether or not they have a hand rail is a good idea because that can make things easier, I imagine.
10. Ramps
Always remember ramps can be dangerous… whether it’s a ramp that goes directly into a restaurant or one that is nearby and is basically there to get you across the road. My first encounter of this was when I was pushing Fiona out of Ales & Tails, I realised a steep ramp could result in my boss ending up in the middle of the road… I relived this on our Wheeled in Chelsea Night Out – take care on the ramps or any kind of slope, in the vicinity of the restaurant/bar being reviewed!
Hope this all helps explain what to do! Now you should be well prepared to go out and enter our Wheeled In Chelsea Competition. Good luck!!!