Overview

I booked Premier Inn Harrogate Central as I was looking for something within budget but close to the centre. In reality, it was a little further out than I expected, though it was ideally placed for a wander to Valley Gardens. My stay was pleasant enough, but if you are a manual wheelchair user you will get a workout on your way in and out of the hotel. In this instance, I did not book an accessible room.

Transport & Parking

Parking is available just outside the front doors, on the steep hill leading down to the entrance. There are two accessible parking spaces as well as four standard spaces. The closest railway station is Harrogate Railway Station, 480 metres from the hotel. Harrogate is quite a hilly city, so be prepared if you are walking or wheeling. Harrogate Bus Station is on the same street as the train station. There are two local bus stops. One is outside the Conference Centre, where the 2, 727H and S2 services operate. The other is on Cambridge Road and is served by the 2, 3, 6, 24, 36, 59, 825, S2, S8, X12 and X52.

Access

Getting to the hotel is a bit of a struggle, especially if you find steep inclines difficult. The only way in is up a hill that also doubles as the road for this hotel and the nearby Hilton. When you finally get to the top, there is a steep slope back down to the entrance. The entrance itself has two sets of automatic sliding doors, each with a metal bar at the threshold that creates a slight lip. It is not too bad, but it is something to watch for. Reception is straight ahead. The desk has check-in terminals on either side, with card readers at a good height for anyone who is short or who uses a wheelchair or powerchair. There is no lowered section, and I could not see any signs showing a hearing loop. To get to the lifts, you turn right at reception and pass through a manual door. It is not the easiest thing to manage in a wheelchair. The lifts are just beyond this door. They are fine for a wheelchair or powerchair, but not very roomy. There are Braille buttons inside and outside, though you do need to tap your keycard before using them. Coming out of the lift, you face an outward-opening door that also needs a keycard. This can be awkward if you are not standing, although at least the door is not heavy. The final door is your room door, which is heavy as well and also keycard-operated. It opens inwards. Standard Room The room I stayed in had good clearance between the bed and the desk, which made it easy enough to get across to the other side, though I could not turn around. There was enough space to transfer to the bed from either side, and I liked that all the lights could be controlled from the bed. Each side of the bed had a small ledge acting as a bedside table with power and USB sockets, and there were more sockets above the desk. I have written separately about the toilet in the Accessible Toilet section of this review. Dining Area I only popped my head into the dining area on the ground floor, so I cannot say much about the food. There was a good mix of seating, though, with stools, fabric chairs, wooden chairs and leather benches. The bar does not have a lowered section. I spotted a sticker showing a hearing loop here, but I did not see anything similar in reception. The positive is that there is plenty of space to move around, which makes the whole area feel a lot more open and manageable.

Toilets

As mentioned, I did not book an accessible room, but I will give some information here as it may be helpful to other visitors. The door opens inwards, and the doorframe is wide enough for a manual wheelchair to pass through. There are no rails in the standard toilet, though there are handles in the centre of the bath on either side. The bath has an overhead shower and a lever-style tap. There is no real space to transfer unless you transfer side on and turn on the seat, which may be considered an advanced move for some. On the plus side, there is plenty of space to turn a wheelchair or powerchair.

Staff

Generally helpful, though it would have been nice to have assistance with the door.

Photos