Include Me 2 Club Social Blend Cafe

dystrophydad

03 Feb 2026

Room with a brew

5

5

Date of visit: February 2026

I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: a hidden impairment, accessing toilets and moving around.

I use or have experience of: changing places toilet, disabled toilet, hidden impairment, powerchair, toilet with hoist, toilets, walking aid, wheelchair

Overall Rating

Excellent

I learned about Social Blend after spotting their new kiosk at Braehead Shopping Centre. A quick Google search told me that they are a social enterprise that creates job opportunities and provides work experience for disabled people. The staff are a delight, joyful and happy to meet new visitors and regulars. It is clear there is a real community here. Social Blend is part of the charity Include Me 2 Club's impact programme. They also make a great cup of coffee using beans from Thompson's Coffee, a Glasgow-based business. If you're in the area and need a bite and a brew, please consider stopping in. Every cup makes a difference.

Disabled Access In and Around

Good

The main entrance has two sets of automatic doors that are activated by touch pads. The building is level throughout with lifts to the upper floors that feature braille markings, a hearing loop and a perimeter rail. There are seating areas throughout the building and all doors are automatic. The café has three booths with soft leather seats and several circular tables with wooden chairs. There is no lowered section at the counter but it is open enough that it is easy to interact with staff. The staff brought my food to my table, which was helpful. My one critique is that I overlooked the fridge when I first arrived, due to this I didn't realise there were sandwiches available. It would be good if this had better signposting. I should add that it may be a little challenging to retrieve something from the fridge if you use a wheelchair, although I'm certain staff will help. To the right of the café, there's an outdoor court area with benches, if you fancy sitting outside. The doors to this area are automatic.

Accessible facilities: Lift to all areas, Single-level venue, Step-free entrance, Seating at regular intervals

Parking & Transport

Good

I travelled to this place by personal vehicle

Accessible Toilets

Social Blend is part of the Parkhead Hub, which is a mixed purpose venue with a library, doctor’s surgery, coffee shop (of course) and community spaces. Although the loos are not operated by Social Blend, they are available for all visitors to use. I visited the accessible toilets in the nearby library and in the main foyer and found them to be quite pleasant. The doors to the toilets open inwards and all accessible toilets had a contrasting toilet seat and silver rails on either side of the toilet pan. The sinks have sensor taps with rails on either side. The Changing Places toilet requires a RADAR key, which can be obtained from staff. It features a ceiling track hoist, adult change bed, shower, adjustable sink and colostomy shelf. The one downside to the Changing Places toilet is the number of bins in the right side transfer space, which makes it impossible to use. In all loos, the red cords were freely hanging. I have provided this information so others know what is local to the café. Since they do not operate the loos, I will not provide a score here.

Facilities: Accessible toilet, Changing Places toilet with shower