John Lewis Reading
5
5
Date of visit: June 2015
I have experience of challenges around: moving around
Overall Rating
Excellent
I'm a self-confessed John Lewis fan, but when I visited this store on a less mobile day I was astounded by how helpful the staff were. I've never used the restaurant before...it's great - spacious, filled with sunshine, fully accessible, and when the staff at the checkout spotted my walking stick they immediately offered assistance unprompted.
Disabled Access In and Around
Excellent
There are central lifts to all floors with wide access doors. There are also escalators. The store is easy to get around with a walking aid.
Parking & Transport
Average
Holybrook car park in The Oracle has Shopmobility and lots of blue badge parking spaces. Parking is expensive though. There is a lift down to street level, and then you need to go to the Chain Street entrance for wheelchair access to John Lewis. The Minster Street entrance has stairs only.
Accessible Toilets
Good
Signage to the accessible loo is very poor, but it's spacious and clean. The red cord was too short but I'm confident that this will be resolved.
Staff
Excellent
True to JL form they were incredibly helpful. The restaurant staff offered to assist me with my tray when they saw my walking stick. I asked to speak to the Operations Manager (Sarah) about the red emergency cord in the accessible loo being too short, and she couldn't have been more helpful. She immediately understood the problem & said that it would be addressed right away. She was also very interested to hear about Euan's Guide, and took the website address from the card, which she kindly left attached to the red cord! When I asked other staff about access, they were knowledgeable & friendly
Additional Information
The website doesn't give information (that I could find) about which entrances are wheelchair accessible.
