Serious accessibility issues.
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1
Date of visit: July 2017
I am a carer or friend of a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: hearing and moving around.
Overall Rating
Bad
Not suitable for wheelchair users. Difficult for those with limited mobility.
Disabled Access In and Around
Bad
Coombe farm studios (http://www.coombefarmstudios.com) . This well respected studio and gallery runs courses for artists in a remote location in the beautiful Devon countryside. Unfortunately, the nature of the site - on a steep hillside - is not suitable for wheelchair users. It would require major remodelling of the site to make it so. We visited for a painting course with my wife who has limited mobility because of back and balance issues. She managed around the site, with care and with help from the lovely Lara who runs the studio, and other course members. If you're thinking of going there are several issues to be aware of in advance. There are steep uneven steps down from the car park to the accommodation. Shared bathrooms and showers (none en suite) have no grab rails nor seats. There is a steep slope from the accommodation to the studio, with no hand rails. The courtyard outside the studio, is very uneven and has many trip hazards. The studio is on the first floor, accessible only by stairs (no lift).
Parking & Transport
0No specific disabled parking in rough surfaced car park.
Accessible Toilets
0No accessible loo.
Staff
Excellent
Lara was very sympathetic to our situation and did all she could, within the limitations of the site, to make life easy for my wife - including additional car journeys between the accommodation and the studio (steep slope).
Additional Information
The high quality of the teaching - and the incredible food - means that, if your mobility issues are no too severe, it's worth visiting if you're an artist looking for good courses.
