Balmoral Arms

Update: I have received an apology from the hotel who said that they have recently employed new staff and that thanks to my complaint, they realise more training is needed. There is a ramp available at the front and level access through a ‘non-scenic’ entrance at the rear. Based on the hotel website which says it is fully accessible, I visited with my elderly mother who is a wheelchair user. On arrival I noted the large step at the door and went inside to ask the receptionist where the wheelchair access was. He said that there wasn’t any and that I had to use the main door whose step was approx 10 inches high. I said that we would find somewhere else to eat and he said Ok then. I then contacted the hotel using their website and have had no response. On this basis until there is evidence otherwise, I would not recommend visiting with a wheelchair.

We were staying in the area with my aunt and uncle, and had phoned the hotel earlier in the. Day to check on access for wheelchair users and to see if they had a table for dinner that night. We were told it was fully accessible. they had a suitable table. So we booked that I explained about my allergies and they said no problem at all. Upon arrival my aunt went inside as there were two steps up into the hotel. The receptionist produced a metal ramp which went over the steps . It wasn’t easy to get the wheelchair up the ramp as it kept sliding across the steps. My husband had in the meantime returned as he had gone to park the car in the main town at park opposite after dropping me outside and getting me in my wheelchair. It took my aunt, uncle and husband to get me up the ramp. Once inside there was so much space to move around with the wheelchair, we had too go through the lounge to access the restaurant . Tables were spaced well apart so plenty of space for me . The staff in the restaurant were very helpful and were able to tell us if any ingredients I’m allergic to were in what I wanted for my meal. The menu had quite a choice suitable for all. My aunt is vegetarian she was surprised by how much she had to choose from. I must say all our meals were well presented and beautifully cooked . We really enjoyed the evening . Unfortunately leaving the hotel was quite a different issue. We had to ask for the ramp. The young man looked at us and said can’t you lift it down the steps. Too which my husband said no, we need the ramp. Which he did eventually get but had no idea how it worked . My aunt, uncle and husband tried to explain to him how to use it. He did eventually get it down but the. Ramp is so small it hardly covered the steps . Again it took the three of them to get me onto the ramp as it kept moving . My chair was just on the top of the ramp when my uncle went to push it down the ramp , the ramp with my chair on slipped off the step and a landed with quite a thud on the next step not a nice experience at all. This did spoil what had been a lovely meal . I did contact the hotel upon my return home and explain the issues we had and gave suggestions as to how they couldn’t improve access. They did email back and say sorry and would get a better ramp. It remains to be seen if they do. We would visit again as the food was excellent. But I would make sure I had my special crutches with me, which I could manage with along with help from my husband and get up the two steps And just put the wheelchair at the top of the steps inside the hotel.