Overview

A colleague and I stopped in at this Costa location on our way to Aerospace Bristol for an event. It's for this reason that I can immediately tell you that this coffee shop is a mile from Patchway station on foot or on wheels. I can't say much about the venue as it's similar to every other Costa Coffee location I've been to. It's part of the Bristol Filton Travelodge but is open to the public, and there's a drive-thru for those driving and needing a cup of joe on the go.

Transport & Parking

There are two accessible parking spaces at the door with hatched markings between the two. If these are taken, there are also two spaces of the same design at the Subway in the area and four accessible parking spaces at the entrance to the hotel. There are also plenty of standard parking spaces for those who can use them. The closest train station is Patchway, which is a mile away. The station has step-free access, but it is unstaffed. The closest bus stops are on Gloucester Road, where the 71 operates, and on Hayes Way, where the X10 service operates.

Access

There is a set of outward-opening metal and glass double doors at the entrance, both of which are manually operated. A single door is wide enough for a manual chair, but for larger devices, you might need both doors to be opened. Upon entering, I noticed a section to the right which was definitely impractical for wheelchair users due to the placement of chairs and a partition. We sat in a section on the left, moving a few chairs to make room. There is also a combination of hard and soft seats throughout the venue. We were easily able to get to the counter from here. The counter does not have a lowered section, but is low enough that you don't have to peer over it. A hearing loop operates at the counter, which I appreciate. Parts of the shop can be a bit more challenging to navigate depending on where people have abandoned their chairs, but generally, it was straightforward to get around and understand the layout.

Toilets

The accessible toilet is located just past the service counter. The door opens outward and does not require a RADAR key. There is a modest use of braille on both sides of the door; there is a small circle with instructions on how to open and lock the door, depending on which side you're on. The toilet itself has a blue seat and rails on either side. There is a right-side transfer space but it's blocked by a large bin, making it useless. The red cord hangs to your right when seated and the flush is on the rear wall. The sink has a small basin, a push-button tap and silver grabrails on either side. The hand dryer is on the wall to the left of the sink. As with most accessible toilets, there is a baby change table mounted on the wall.

Staff

The one member of staff we met was very helpful. Noting that my colleague and I are both wheelchair users, they asked if they'd like our food brought over or to carry it on a tray on our knees.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

There is a dog bowl at the door as you enter.

Photos