You may have seen my recent article in The Lady on top places in London to go out, if not here’s the link. So as Xmas approaches I thought I should do a review of places across the UK you may want to try for a Xmas evening out, if the weather doesn’t put you off:

First up is The Artesian Bar at the Langham Hotel, Portland Place is very Xmassy, as is the whole hotel. I went here after my Podcast for BBC Ouch at Broadcasting Place. Access is via a lift from the street and the doorman will help as well. The music when I went was ‘dance trendy’ – a new genre! Nibbles were different than the norm and very tasty too. Such as the nuts with an underlying taste that was difficult to recognise – it was Rosemary. It was very busy but we managed to get a table as the wheelchair was blocking the bar – good ‘blagging’ tip!! The atmosphere was very pre-party and we had a great time. Only issue is that the disabled toilet is downstairs via a lift.

The Hardwick is a restaurant in Abergavenny, Wales run by Stephen Terry who has worked in some of the best restaurants in the UK, including Le Gavroche, Cecconis & he also won a Michelin star at his previous restaurant The Walnut Tree. It’s unaudited but they told us they do have level access at the front of the restaurant and if you let them know you’re coming they will designate an appropriate table. They have a disabled toilet at the front and a ramp that goes to the second part of the restaurant. As for the rooms one of them is accessible and has a walk in shower with the ‘appropriate rails’. They have a Xmas menu that includes Turkey Breast, Pork & Parma Ham Sausage Roll, Triple Cooked Potato, Brussel Sprouts, Stock Pot Carrots and a Xmas Pudding creme brûlée – so knock yourselves out!! As far as Xmas ambience goes they have baubles on their deer head and mistletoe hanging off the chandelier – So we can’t wait until we get an invite to Wales!? The Hardwick gets a provisional 2.5 BBS Ticks.

Next is the bar at One Aldwych. They always have a great Xmas/floral display in the centre of the room and I usually go there for drinks on New Years Eve as it’s close to Trafalgar Square. So you get a sense of the revelry without needing to be in the square and the cold!! However, unless you’re staying at the hotel for the New Years Eve party you have to leave at 11.30pm and you probably need to reserve a table. The cocktails and bar snacks are brilliant, such as a ‘Festive Sour’ with rum, Amaretto, lemon juice, old fashioned syrup & lemongrass foam. They have 3 BBS ticks.

The Bar at the Merchants Hotel in The Cathedral Quarter Belfast is a place I haven’t visited but it’s highly recommended by colleagues as the cocktails are good and there’s a great atmosphere. They have disabled rooms with walk in showers available if you have one too many and need a place to stay. The Bar is accessible via a lift from the ground floor to the mezzanine and there are disabled toilets on both floors. They get an unaudited 2.5 BBS Ticks.

The Black lion in Brighton on Black Lion Street, is recommended by an able bodied young friend of BBS. They do mulled wine and cider and it’s a ‘really old, cosy pub with good food and music in the evening’. There’s no disabled toilet but a Pizza Express nearby lets you use theirs. Don’t let the 5″ ledge to get into the place put you off, as they will help you get in and it’s worth it, apparently. Only 1.5 provisional BBS Ticks.

If the obstacles at the Black Lion are too onerous there’s a sister joint nearby called The Mesmerist. They used to have a disabled toilet but it was given away for office space!!! WTH! It’s all on the flat and easy to get in and they get plenty of disabled visitors as it has a spacious dance floor with tables to sit at . It’s a 50’s inspired club/cabaret and they have a late licence to 1pm (at least). Again they have an arrangement with the same Pizza Express where you can use their disabled toilet, no steps and it’s 10 metres from The Mesmerist. Sounds a great place to go and I’m assured it’s got a Xmas vibe but you need to book to be sure you get in. Can’t wait to do an audit as it sounds intriguingly stylish and they get a provisional 2 BBS ticks (the max without a disabled toilet).

The next place I can recommend is The Pipe & Glass in Beverley, E. Yorks. One of our readers sent us a review & confirmed that the food is really good, there’s access & a disabled toilet – see my previous post here. They don’t have a Xmas menu per se, which if you’re like me, I can do without Brussel sprouts and Xmas pudding – nevertheless they assure me that the ambience is very ‘Xmas like’ and there’s an open fire. They have a Michelin Star and more importantly they also get 2.5 BBS Ticks.

Truffled mushroom and spinach tart, poached hen egg, mature cheddar rarebit and hazelnut pesto – New Years Veggie Option at The Pipe & Glass

Next, I know I’m always accused of being London centric so this choice is in the wilds of Norfolk, where I went last year. The White Horse in Brancaster Staithe was a good all round choice as it had great seafood and wonderful views of the sea. It’s a bit different for Xmas as it’s out of the way but worth a visit if you need to clear the Xmas cobwebs with some bracing winds and sea air!!?? Accessible with a good disabled toilet it got 2.5 BBS Ticks following my last visit, see the review.

For my last recommendation I have to come back to London – sorry! You can’t go wrong with a visit to Harvey Nichols in Knightsbridge. We previously reviewed the Fifth Floor Champagne Bar, which is accessible via a lift, has good snacks and interesting clientele (Louis Walsh was there when I last visited) and the disabled toilets are just outside the bar. It’s great to visit even if shopping is a little expensive; you can always just by a delicacy from the Fifth Floor food shop. They always have great Xmas window displays and Knightsbridge puts on a beautiful light show at Christmas. They have everything (style, toilets, access & Xmas gift wrapped!!) and get 3 BBS Ticks.

From all at BBS have a great Xmas and drive those mobility aids safely, whatever they may be ?!! xx

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Artesian Bar, The Langham Hotel

Artesian Bar, The Langham Hotel

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