This week we (me and Lieutenant No.1, who insisted on singing England football chants all day), went on a visit to Bray & Marlow to see if Heston Blumenthal & Tom Kerridge (respectively) had taken any note of the disability hospitality market – worth £2BN p.a.
First it was Bray which should be re-named ‘Heston’ as he has three places there – The Fat Duck, The Hinds Head & The Crown. All reviewed previously by BBS and all with 2 out of a possible 3 BBS Ticks -all great places but devoid of disabled facilities. All three are in old buildings and this has been the previous excuse for no facilities. Our trip started at the Hinds Head where access is difficult as we had to use the side door with two steep steps instead of the front, which has one small step, as there was no room to squeeze past the tightly packed cars.
However, we’re very pleased to report that they now have a disabled toilet, albeit up a very steep and narrow ramp. It has one angled grab rail and the space is tight but at least they’ve listened. Apart from this it’s very much still like an old fashioned pub and the staff are helpful without being obsequious. As a result we’re upgrading them to 2.5 BBS Ticks especially as their bar food is really good….somewhere we’re definitely going back to.
As for The Fat Duck, it’s closing for refurbishment and, according to the staff, installation of disabled facilities. It’s relocating to Melbourne for 6 months and then will return, with its molecular gastronomy, back to the UK. Heston says:
“The Fat Duck is part of a Grade II listed building, so I always knew there would come a time when it would need a little attention and the building itself would require a bit of modernisation, after all, it was built in 1640,” – Better late than never from the millionaire chef!!
The modernisation won’t be starting until Feb 2015 so if you want molecular food try Simon Rogan’s restaurants in Manchester & Claridge’s, London which are both accessible and have disabled toilets. So, until 2015, The Fat Duck still only get 2 BBS Ticks to go with their 3 Michelin Stars.
Meanwhile, back to our journey through Bray and lastly we visited the Crown, an old fashioned ‘boozer’ that Heston wants to keep as such. Access through the front door is via steps but flat if you go through the courtyard at the side. However, there is no disabled toilet. We spoke with staff and they are exploring the possibility of putting one in, with the help of local planners – let’s hope they have a disability consultant.
So it’s getting better in Heston World but not in Marlow where Tom Kerridge’s Hand & Flowers is Centerparcs to Heston’s Savoy i.e. a 2 Michelin starred restaurant but not as exciting as Heston’s food or as stylish as his pubs. We can’t understand that only 1 Michelin Star separates them – was the inspector hooked on animal fat (lots of it on the menu)?? Or was he just impressed by the attractive female staff who were just a tad obsequious??
The food was good, especially the starter of pickled girolle risotto and the dessert of strawberry panna cotta, but the ambience was exemplified by the background music that sounded like a sample from Heart FM. There were no ramps, not even portable ones, even though a modern extension is attached to the listed building, and the steps into the pub are quite treacherous. There’s also no disabled toilet which could have easily been part of the new extension!! It was fully booked and I’m not sure why as it was £140 for 2 for lunch with no wine…maybe the power of his TV appearances?
But onwards and upwards, I returned to London and finished off the week with a visit to Pizarro restaurant in Bermondsey. Owned and run by Jose Pizarro, it’s a totally different ‘kettle of fish’ , relaxed and friendly with great spanish food especially the courgette flower stew, the stuffed pepper and the scallop ‘Mum’s style’. They anticipated my arrival and a portable ramp was ready to overcome the 2 steps. After that everything was on one level with a smooth floor. There’s an easily accessible disabled toilet with all the necessaries. All in all a refreshing approach to disability.
The room is sociable but the acoustics provided by wood covered walls meant you could still hear your conversation and provides a calming backdrop to the excellent food. The kitchen is open, just like their attitude to customers, Jose himself told me they want everyone to be able to enjoy their restaurant. It wasn’t packed at lunchtime but it is at night so booking is advised.
Pizarro’s is another place I can’t wait to go back to and not expensive (£60 for 2). They get a maximum 3 BBS Ticks. Thank goodness for Jose: he could teach Heston and Tom a thing or two about inclusion.
All this made me think ‘how can we pressurise restaurants into being more inclusive’? We came up with the idea “No Access, No Service Charge” as a campaign – what do you think let us know here.