Overview

The attitude of staff on front desk was very poor. No widened doors at the front for wheelchair access, rooms are tight with only just enough room for a wheelchair to manoeuvre. The alternative entrance (that was locked at all times we may have needed it) is only accessible to a wheelchair user by travelling in a road to get there as there are no paths wide enough for a chair.

Transport & Parking

The car park does not allow access for wheelchair adapted vehicles. There was no option to drop off as I (the wheelchair user) am the driver of the adapted vehicle. We therefore ended up parked around 1 mile away and having to drag our cases all that way. No options for blue badge holders in wheelchair adapted vehicles. The parking also costs around £27 a day which given the price of the hotel is pretty over the top with no reduction for blue badge holders, even if you could get in!

Access

Firstly, there is no widened door at the front of the building. Staff will not come out to assist you, but will berate you if you try and get their attention by other means. I was left outside for 15 minutes in the rain and wind, distressed trying to get inside. My friend went in to request assistance for me but she was also refused help. Eventually a very nice manager came but the general staff attitude was quite frankly ableist at best and discriminatory at worse. Given this hotel has apparently been refurbished I am surprised that a wheelchair accessible entrance with widened doorways has not been fitted. The rooms are small in size. It was just possible to get my powerchair from the door to the bathroom. The layout meant that the doorway was flooded if you took a shower meaning you have to drive through a puddle to exit the wet room. The seat was uncomfortable in the shower and not very stable, and there was a lack of grab rails for the toilet. The towels are left out of reach of a wheelchair user so don’t go alone!! There was also no toilet roll holder in a sensible place. The sink is so huge you cannot reach the taps easily and is incredibly hard to use. There is no sink plug so having a wash or brushing teeth is nearly impossible. (Room 253). The hotel do not have a way to organise a PEEP if you cannot use an evac chair for any reason, so we had to just hope there were no alarms as there was no plan.

Toilets

Please see above re wet room falling below standard. The other accessible loos I’m pretty sure don’t meet current standards for size etc.

Staff

Honestly if it wasn’t for the manager we met and the lovely person at breakfast this would also be 0.5 stars. The reception staff as stated above were ableist and refused help.