Last week Max & I went to the Independent Hotel Show at Olympia to spread the word about BBS and our community of people who want more than a Holiday Inn Express. This indeed surprised a few people as we told them the disability market for hospitality was worth £2Bn a year in the UK (excluding foreign visitors).
There were 2 highlights:
1st The Boundary Hotel won Independent Hotelier of the Year & Outstanding Hotel of the Year. Owned in part by Terence Conran, it’s also really disabled friendly and one of our favourite places see our review here. They have the maximum 3 BBS Ticks.
The 2nd, was the CLOUD which was designed by Conran + Partners – their work as Architects & Designers “is driven by Sir Terence Conran’s philosophy: that good design improves the quality of people’s lives”. Hear Hear!!
It was a chill out zone away from the melee of the show and was designed with a ceiling made of white fringing at different levels so as you walked/wheeled in, it was through a white, soft fringe, ‘CLOUD’. Surreal and calming, yes, but it did look like someone from ‘Strictly Come Dancing’ had gone mad with a Charleston outfit.
I also went to Fulham FC, Craven Cottage to watch my team (ManUtd of course) and as with all Premiership Clubs access and facilities for the disabled are good. The problem with Craven Cottage is it’s freezing as the away supporters stand gets the wind off the Thames. Great game though as we won and as always, the singing is the best bit, especially the new one from our fans which asks Fulham “Where’s your p**do statue now… ” made me laugh!?
Afterwards we popped into the Hampshire Hog Pub in Hammersmith which was awarded 2.5 BBS Ticks last week. I’m sorry to say this is now downgraded to 2 BBS Ticks. The food is still great, as is the disabled toilet (not occupied by staff this time) but the entrance for wheelchairs is not so good. Not only is there a large door frame to get over, which BTW could easily take a small ramp, but they insist that the children’s high chairs that sit in the corner cannot be moved. So we had to do a 3 point turn to get round them, again easily rectified if moved slightly. On top of that all the tables were booked so just popping in for a drink was difficult for them – apparently a pub is only a pub if you book!!?? So we sat at the bar where my wheelchair caused maximum obstruction.
Anyway see you next week after I’ve been to review the new D&D London Hotel, South Place and their Michelin Star restaurant The Angler. They say it’s 100% accessible – well it is designed by Conran+Partners! (See here).
