It is always nice to be considered.
4
4
Date of visit: July 2025
I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: a hidden impairment and moving around.
I use or have experience of: hidden impairment, powerchair, walking aid
Overall Rating
Good
It is unfortunately quite rare to find a queer bar that is wheelchair accessible, so I was delighted to see the ramp at the entrance to Society where most other gay bars in the area had steps. While there is no lift down to the basement, there is step-free access to the bar on the ground floor and an accessible toilet. It is of course not ideal to only have access to part of the venue, but seeing the needs of disabled people considered with the ramp and the bathroom felt really nice.
Disabled Access In and Around
Average
The entrance to society is on the corner of the street. There is a lowered curb on the corner. The whole width of the pavement in front of the door sloped up to make a wide ramp. The front door opens to the inside right. The door is not automatic; it was propped open when I visited. There are no raised thresholds. The bar is in front of you when you enter and goes around to the right. There are no lowered sections on the bar. There are no stools at the bar and there is a good amount of space to get past the bar to the accessible toilet to the left. There is less space on the right side of the bar to get past if the stools on the right wall are in use. All the seating I could see on the ground floor was bar-height and cushioned. The seating on the right and in the back is half booths along the windows with long narrow tables. There are bar stools with no backrests on the other side of the tables. To the left of the front door as you enter, there are two small round tables with bar stools that have backrests. There is a small stage on the left that is one step up and has a railing along the front. There are five steps next to it with handrails on either side that lead up to a small landing. That is the way to the basement bar.
Accessible facilities: Step-free entrance, Seating at regular intervals, Wheelchair-accessible food and beverage outlet
Parking & Transport
Average
I travelled to this place by walk or wheel
There is very limited on-street parking in the area and none close to the entrance. The Sovereign Square multi-storey car park is just across the street and the Trinity multi-storey car park is also close by. Leeds station is a 0.3-mile/7-minute and the bus stops on Boar Lane for Trinity are a 0.2-mile/4-minute walk or wheel.
Accessible Toilets
Good
The ground floor bathroom has many labels – one saying “gents” and a sign encouraging everyone to use whichever bathroom they like – but there is no sign saying that it is accessible. Granted, there is no red cord, but there are a lot of grab rails and plenty of space.
Facilities: Accessible toilet
Staff
Good
I had a nice wee chat with the bartender, who was happy for me to look around and take pictures.
