Chilled-out and welcoming.
3.5
3.5
Date of visit: July 2019
I have experience of challenges around: dexterity or coordination, hearing, moving around and speaking or communicating.
Overall Rating
Good
I visited Caffè Nero late on a Thursday afternoon and so it was pretty busy with late-night shoppers; almost all the tables were full but there was still lots of space for my wheelchair to manoeuvre. There was also lots of room in front of the counter to order and the staff were really friendly and helpful, insisting upon carrying our tray over to a table for us. The windows were at an ideal height for me to look out onto the street and people watch, also, the acoustics were great. I often find it a problem to be heard in coffee shops as I wear a ventilation mask so it was fantastic to be able to enjoy the chilled-out atmosphere while also being able to chat without too much effort. The apple juice I had was delicious and my P.A. told me that his coffee was really nice too.
Disabled Access In and Around
Good
The manual entrance door would be extremely difficult to open from a wheelchair without assistance; people inside did offer to help but I think that you would be in trouble if you were alone. Once inside though, the access is really good with plenty of space around and between tables. My only criticism regarding inside the cafe would be that there is quite a sharp corner to negotiate to get to the disabled toilet, again, I'm sure that the staff would be more than willing to offer assistance as they were lovely.
Parking & Transport
Average
There is no on-site parking as it's located on a pedestrianised precinct but it's only a few minutes walk from parking in the Eastgate Centre nearby; it's also a few minutes walk from the train and bus stations. On-street parking is a bit further away and it can difficult to get a disabled space, especially at the time of day when I visited.
Accessible Toilets
Good
The toilet was averagely clean for the time of day and shared with baby-changing. There was a red cord and grab rails with plenty of space for me to manoeuvre in my chair. As the turn into the toilet was quite sharp, I've given it 3.5.
Staff
Excellent
The staff were great despite there not being too many of them. It was a fairly busy time of day so I really appreciate the time that they took to help me and ensure that I felt welcome.
Additional Information
Although it wasn't an issue for me as I love dogs, they are welcome in this cafe and this may be an issue for people with allergies and/or asthma etc. The welcoming, helpful staff, the interior space, chilled vibe and good acoustics were the highlights for me and I'd come back for those reasons.
