Wonderful staff, but a hotel to be avoided if you are physically disabled. However the restaurant is stunning
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Date of visit: September 2017
I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Bad
Online, this hotel looked just what we wanted - centre of the old town, car parking, restaurant attached and an accessible room. I did phone and check about the bathroom, and was assured that a seat would be provided in the shower. I must say "OLD TOWN" should have set alarm bells ringing. The hotel is in a lovely OLD building (you guessed it - a Court House). It is a listed building, and very difficult to make disabled friendly. They have tried - but, unfortunately, failed. The hotel parking is about 20 abled-bodied minutes walk away, accessed via a myriad of tiny, one way streets. My able-bodied husband dropped me and the luggage off, then had to go and park the car - took nearly an hour. I burst out crying when we reached the room (there was a lift to all the floors). The room was originally on at least three levels with steps between. So, to make it accessible, they had introduced narrow ramps, which of necessity were short and therefore quite steep. I could not propel myself into the room in my wheelchair. The room itself was very cramped - once I, my husband, the wheelchair and mobility scooter were in, there was almost no room to move. The bathroom was even more cramped, made worse by being divided into 3 parts. The seat for the shower was completely inappropriate (I think they understood I just wanted to sit down - not shower on it!). There was only one shaky grab rail by the toilet. I could not go wheel into the bathroom by myself, as it involved negotiating 2 ramps, and no turning circle. On the plus side, there was an emergency cord strung right around the whole bathroom, just above floor level. The ramps were a big mistake - they would have been better off leaving the steps, although then not wheelchair accessible (not that it was with the ramps). My husband tripped off the side of one - so bad even for the able-bodied. We couldn't stay there for longer than one night (had originally booked for 3). The staff were really apologetic - and almost as upset as we were. It had not occurred to them how unfriendly the room was to a disabled person. The next day they phoned around to find us a new, more appropriate hotel, gave us a bottle of wine to say sorry, and did not charge us for the next two booked nights. Throughout, the staff were amazing, and I am sure the hotel would be great for able-bodied clients - just not for physically disabled guests. I did suggest that they change their website and stop advertising an accessible room, as there was no way they could really make it better, given the restrictions imposed by the building's structure and historical importance. The attached restaurant is wonderful
Disabled Access In and Around
Bad
Uncovered outdoor wheelchair lift to reception. Seats in reception for waiting. Lifts to all floors. The supposedly accessible room is not.
Parking & Transport
Bad
No parking nearby. No public parking in the old town at all, and I doubt there are many (if any) buses. Everyone uses bicycles
Accessible Toilets
Bad
The toilet in the bathroom has one shaky grab rail, but it was not possible for me to get in/out of the bathroom without assistance - no space to manoeuvre , and steep narrow ramps to get to the bathroom public toilet in the basement accessed by lift. Plenty of space, grab rails etc.
Staff
Excellent
All the staff were amazingly friendly and exceptionally helpful.
Additional Information
Sadly, DO NOT go to stay - but do try out the restaurant
