We recently visited two iconic London venues and for once a Grade II listed building has been refurbished with disabled people in mind. That is Kettner’s, a well known landmark in Soho, founded in 1867 by Auguste Kettner, chef to Napoleon III and it was one of the first French restaurants in London. The building is Grade II listed and it was interesting to see if disabled facilities had been installed – a long held ‘grudge’ of BBS is the use of historic listing as an excuse NOT to add these and ignore the fact that it’s our history as well, (see our campaign here).

Kettner’s is most famous for its former clientele: King Edward VII and his mistress Lillie Langtry, Oscar Wilde, Agatha Christie, Churchill, Bing Crosby and Robert de Niro, to name a few. It closed two years ago and was bought by The Soho Group, owners of Soho House (Shoreditch) & High Road Brasserie, (both very accessible). It’s now a 33 bedroom Townhouse , Restaurant and Champagne Bar.

Kettner’s Grade II Listed Facade Has 2 Steps From the Street. Flat Access is Next Door On The Left.

If you want somewhere welcoming and accessible in Soho this is certainly the place to go. Unlike most of the Soho Group Townhouses this one is open to non-members. The front entrance on Romilly Street, has two steps but there is access next door on the same street with an assistance button.

Assisted Entrance Next Door, Via a Buzzer, With Braille, For Disabled People

You enter through the champagne bar to the restaurant and the disabled toilets are accessed via a lift to the lower floor. It was busy at lunchtime and we had some delicious sea bass and chips, accompanied by a lovely bottle of Macon. It’s reasonably priced for central London with main courses around £14-£26 and starters £6-£12. Their lunch time trade is growing according to the GM who greeted us so let’s hope the menu stays at a reasonable price. The owners want to promote ‘affordable glamour’ and that it does, however The Telegraph’s Ben McCormack says

‘Skip the restaurant and sit in the adjacent piano bar. You can graze on small plates, knock back a bracingly chilly martini in a gold-rimmed coupe glass, order a Grasshopper instead of pudding and soak up the spot-on Soho House vibe without having to fork out for membership’, (so even more affordable glamour!! Ed.)

The decor definitely adds to the ambiance and is full of tapestry style upholstery, murals and rugs. The main areas have smooth wooden flooring. The soft furnishings make the acoustics good even though the restaurant was nearly full and a pianist played in the lounge bar.

Entrace From the Accessible Entrance is Through the Cosy Champagne Bar With Wheelchair Height Tables around The Bar – We’re Coming Back For Champers & Nibbles.

The Lounge Bar Then Leads To The Restaurant & Past the Piano Player

All Floors are Smooth With The Occasional Rug. The Decor is Reminiscent of French Bistros From the Past. It’s Well Lit & The Acoustics Are Good.

I’m going back to try the Champagne Bar! We asked if the bedrooms had wetrooms and grab rails in the shower and toilet. They replied,

‘Kettner’s Townhouse offers accommodation in accessible rooms which are Medium room types in this case. Everything mentioned in your email is accommodated in the accessible rooms’. We will go back and check as they can’t supply photos – They need a BBS Access Gallery.

Kettner’s Townhouse Medium Bedrooms Have Wet Rooms & Appropriate Grab Bars. Suitable For Disabled People

The Medium rooms are not the cheapest starting at £360/night. Nevertheless, Kettner’s restaurant and Champagne Bar get a well deserved 3 BBS Ticks and the hotel gets an unaudited 3 BBS Ticks. Their toilets could be up for a BBS Award as Best Disabled Loo 2018??

Kettner’s Disabled Toilet is Actually Brighter Than This Photo Suggests & Has All 5 Grab Bars. Can’t Remember If There’s a Mirror But The Decor Fits With The Rest of The Building.

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Kettner’s, Restaurant & Bar, Soho

Kettner’s, Restaurant & Bar, Soho

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