Diglis House Hotel

We booked for two nights in the wheelchair adapted suite, as I am a full time wheelchair user. Prior to booking I asked all the relevant questions regarding bed heights, roll under sink etc and everything seemed ok. There is one blue badge parking space next to the front door which reception reserved for us but you need to go round the back of the building for the level entry. The adapted room is in the annex which means going outside again, as it was a sunny day it wasn’t an issue but something to be aware of if staying in winter. The room itself was lovely with views over the garden and river. There is plenty of wheelchair space to the right of the bed and with a bit of furniture reorganising access to the left was ok. The bed is about 65cm high which is great for me and a refreshing change to the so called wheelchair height beds that I struggle with. After a three hour drive I was ready to use the bathroom, what a disaster! If you are an ambulatory wheelchair user you might be able to manage but the floor to ceiling fixed glass shower screen blocks access to everything for a wheelchair user. To the right of the door is a washbasin with room underneath for your knees but you need to reverse into a small gap at the edge of the shower screen to do this, the same screen means you can’t get the chair into the shower. The toilet is in the back right corner and between the front of the toilet and the edge of the sink there is a gap of about 30cm, to the left side there is just about room to get a wheelchair but no room to turn, so the grab rails are unreachable. We phoned reception to see if there was another room, there isn’t, but she did come round with the maintenance man to see if there was anything he could do but the screen is well and truly fixed. I’d have done without a shower, I’d have struggled with the sink but you can’t manage without a toilet, so we had no option but to check out. It was so disappointing because the room was lovely, the staff really helpful and the weather gorgeous.

At the end of your trip, this is a lovely small hotel to spend some time at. Situated by the river Severn, you may just find space to park in their car park (photo 1) but if not, street parking can be had, just make sure you pay at machines. Although it looks like a small hotel, It certainly is not, as you will see later, but there are those steps, and we did not see any ramp, so at this point if you cannot manage them, then forget this hotel. It is pleasantly furnished and nicely decorated throughout (3) with a small but welcoming reception area (4) from which you may enter the hotel (photo 5) and then the bar (photo 6) and order a drink of your choice in comfortable surroundings (photo 7) while many of the rooms have river Severn views (8). A disabled toilet is available (photo 9) which I’m afraid is very basic, and small, (10) and had to leave chair outside. Other rooms are available to sit and relax, but with steps (photo 11) but all very clean and well maintained (12). There are numerous seating rooms to enjoy (13) but if the weather is with you, do go outside (photo 14) and enjoy the gardens (15) with plenty of outside seating (photo 16) The terrace can then be reached if you can get up to it (17) which is a delightful sun trap (18) If you have parked your car at Copenhagen car park, as we suggested, then leave the hotel and turn down to the river Severn, (photo 19) and a short Five minute delightful walk (20) will get you back to your car. OUR FINAL THOUGHTS We thought it was alright, very basic, but it was nice. Comfortable and relaxing, with nice views of the river Severn. Sadly, it is not wheelchair friendly at all, so we cannot recommend it. If you can get out of chair and manage a few steps, then that’s a different picture.