Belfast Bob and Bert's
3
3
Date of visit: September 2025
I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: a hidden impairment, accessing toilets and moving around.
I use or have experience of: changing places toilet, disabled toilet, hidden impairment, powerchair, toilet with hoist, toilets, walking aid, wheelchair
Overall Rating
Average
I popped into the Belfast branch of Bob and Bert's (fun to say) ahead of a train journey to an event. I enjoyed the food so much that I went back the next day. Bob and Bert's is a chain café and restaurant that I have passed by several times but never had the chance to visit. I would say it is worth it for the food, though the accessible toilet, or at least the route to it, caused some frustration. There is level access throughout, plenty of seating options including outdoors, and you can order from your table by scanning the QR code. The staff were attentive and quick to offer to bring my food and coffee over when they saw I was a wheelchair user. It is worth noting that the entrance has heavy manual doors and no bell to notify staff.
Disabled Access In and Around
Average
There are two heavy manual doors at the entrance with no button or bell to call for assistance. I was able to push the door open on my first visit and I had someone with me on my second which made things easier. The café counter is on the right as you enter. It does not have a lowered section but the counter top is quite low in general. When I went to make my purchase I had to stretch to reach the card reader, though it can be lowered if needed. At the far end of the counter there are screens where you can order and pay. There was no button to lower the menu display. The venue also gives the option to order at your table using QR codes on each table. I like this feature, especially when the café is busy. There are a variety of seating options including high stools, low benches and soft chairs. At the benches and some of the tables there are power sockets, which is helpful if you need to charge a mobile phone, laptop or powerchair. The venue is spacious though this depends on whether people leave their chairs tucked in. Signage is generally clear which makes the space easy to navigate. There are no alternative formats available at the venue, which would be a welcome touch. Overall it is a nice place to stop for a bite to eat, but it could be improved with a little more thought given to accessibility.
Accessible facilities: Single-level venue, Step-free entrance, Seating at regular intervals, Step-free access to most areas, Wheelchair-accessible food and beverage outlet
Parking & Transport
Average
I travelled to this place by walk or wheel
wheeled my way down Fountain Street to this location. There is no dedicated parking at the venue. A bus stop where the G1 and G2 services operate is 55 metres away on Wellington Place. Grand Central Station, which is a combined bus and train station, is less than half a mile from the venue and the route between them is level. The closest on-street accessible parking I found was on Queen Street, roughly 160 metres away.
Accessible Toilets
Poor
I have rated the facilities as poor, partly due to issues with the toilet but mostly because the door to the toilet corridor was jammed partly open. From my limited knowledge of plumbing and carpentry, it appears that the door has absorbed water and swollen at some point. This means the door scrapes the floor as it opens, requiring you to force it further to get through. The toilet door is at the far end of the room, it is clearly marked and does not require a RADAR key to open. It opens inward and is secured by twisting the handle on the inside. The toilet itself is small and fairly standard. There are rails on either side, with the red cord on your left when seated. There is space for a left-side transfer but the area is partly occupied by a diaper bin. The sink is small, with a lever-style tap and rails on either side. The room also includes a baby changing facility. There is enough space in the room for an additional person if needed.
Facilities: Accessible toilet
Staff
Excellent
Staff were super helpful and happy to bring my food over to the table.
Comments
LauraCrielly
26 Sep 2025
Thanks Joe - useful review.
