Overview

I am looking for an accessible, affordable party space and I've been to the Leith Dockers for a few events in the past, so I came to look at the venue before deciding. The staff at Leith Dockers were very helpful. Overall - there is level and step-free access to the Jimmy Dalgleish Suite (the main function room which I'm thinking of hiring). The function room has plenty of space. To make it more accessible I'd request if some of the tables and chairs could be removed or stacked to the side. There is also a fab wee stage and dancefloor. It really feels like a lovely party space. The main issue will be the loos. The Leith Dockers Club is in an old manor house, so simply put - there aren't any accessible toilets. However - they are a small, friendly establishment and told me one of their regulars uses a wheelchair - and her chair actually fits better going into the gents so they just vacate the gents and she is happy to use it. They loos were spotless. It really depends upon people's access needs if this is right for your event - I've tried to put as many pics in the review as possible, and more info under the 'toilets' section below. It was really nice of the staff to show me around and I am sure an evening party here would be a great night. They also do catering with various menus ranging from £6.50 - £9ph which look great.

Transport & Parking

Parking in Leith is always going to be a problem. There is a dropped curb outside the venue (see pics) on Academy Street with double yellows, so technically you should be able to pull up out the front. It is a block from Duke St which is serviced well by buses and Foot of the Walk tram stop is on the same block.

Access

There are no steps into the venue. There are double doors into the venue and double doors into the main function suite, both of these are manual doors. See my photos. Inside the main suite there are a lot of tables and chairs, and I'd request to the venue to have some of these moved to create more space. There would still be loads of places for people to sit down. There is another public bar in the venue, that has stairs leading up into it - but I did not review this space as I was specifically looking at the Jimmy Dagleish event suite.

Toilets

No dedicated accessible loo. None of the loos have transfer space. Being able to walk short distances is a must to use the loos here. I doubt there is enough room for a carer in the cubicle too. There is a small grab rail in the ladies but no grab rails in the gents. On the positive side, the loos were absolutely spotless when I went in. During a private event (and even with a few regulars at the smaller bar) I think we'd ask guests to vacate the loos for someone to use them with privacy if required and simply wait for a little bit. The external door to the ladies is 75cm wide, and the internal door is 62cm wide. The external door leading into the gents is also 75cm (apparently one of the women regulars who uses a wheelchair can only get her chair through the gents door, so the fellas give her some privacy when she needs to use the loo and she uses this one).

Staff

I wasn't there during an evening but the two staff members who showed me around and had a chat were super friendly - just as you would expect in a traditional Leith establishment!

Photos