Cramped, and some toilet problems - not recommended
2
2
Date of visit: May 2016
I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: accessing toilets and moving around.
I use or have experience of: disabled toilet
Overall Rating
Poor
Step-free access throughout but hard to get in, tables too close together, and some toilet problems. I would not recommend this place for wheelchair-users.
Disabled Access In and Around
Poor
Very poor access. Whilst the entrance is step free, there's also a heavy door to get through, which is difficult to open, hold, and pass through, while you're seated in a wheelchair. The tables are much too close together, the whole place is cramped, and unsuitable for wheelchair users. The counter is very high, so it's hard to communicate with staff.
Parking & Transport
Good
This branch of Costa is yards from London Bridge Station, which *theoretically* has step-free access to both Northern Line and Jubilee Line. In practice one or both of the lifts required to get to these tube lines are out of order or undergoing 'scheduled maintenance' of some sort. Several buses pass through the area, and it's possible to get assistance for National Rail and local suburban trains at London Bridge mainline station.
Accessible Toilets
Poor
There is an "accessible" toilet, which has been essentially well-designed. But then the staff have undermined the good design by (i) blocking the transfer area by putting a large rubbish bin in it (ii) tying up the red emergency cord in a complex difficult-to-undo knot on one of the grabrails. This is very thoughtless, silly and dangerous. The red emergency cord must hang freely all the way down to the floor, so that it can be reached by anyone who has fallen over, for example during the often precarious transfer from wheelchair to toilet and back.
Staff
Poor
The staff are alert and friendly and keen to help, but they have lost three stars for their failure to keep the accessible toilet in order, as I've mentioned above.
