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Disabled traveller visiting Charlecote Pheasant hotel
All the internet photos of hotel excited us enough to want us to visit this hotel, and approaching it looked very nice from the road, (photo 1) but what a disappointment for us, it is now tired looking, still in need of maintenance and a good paint job to try to brighten the place up. The approach towards hotel was not appealing enough for us (photo 2) and although a decent sized car park, (photo 3) the only disabled bays we could see where alongside the disabled chalets, but at least we could park close
enough to hotel entrance (photo 4). This has quite a steep ramp leading into hotel, but my wife who is my carer, managed to push me up into hotel. The entrance to hotel is very basic, and reception area not at all inspiring (photo 5) Warmly greeted by friendly staff who did all they could to help us. Inside, the lounge had table and chairs, but no sofas to lounge on, and this serves as the bar area as well, (photo 6) big enough to get wheelchair around though. Lounge areas looked acceptable but did not excite us at all, The bar itself functions, (photo 7) but we had a nice cup of coffee. The restaurant again was very basic, nothing inspiring. (Photo 8) with pleasant seating under windows. (9)
If you like us are just visiting, then we need to use the public toilets, and you reach this down a very steep ramp, ( photo 10, the photo is misleading as it does not show how steep the ramp really is ) You cannot get a wheelchair in there, so I had to get up out of my wheelchair to be able to push open the door (11) and get into the toilet area, but it is just an ordinary toilet, with no disabled amenities available, so no grab rails or pull cord, (12) and I was concerned as it smelt a bit and I felt it needed cleaning, so in no way was I going to use the toilet. Going outside into corridor again, was of concern, with a very steep ramp to get up to bar area, and as I had gone to toilets on my own, it was a very hard struggle to get up ramp, so if you have to use toilet then have help to get you up inside hotel again.
There are terrace areas to enjoy, but disabled could not use these areas, as steps to get up and down (photo 13)
There are disabled chalets available as separate from main hotel (photo 14) a good idea, with parking right outside your chalet, but they badly need redecorating and maintenance on the outside, the present grey colour does nothing to give appeal, it’s just a functional colour they used. there is a step to get up into narrow doorway, so you may need to get out of chair so that carer can help you get inside, then fold the chair up to carry in, but it will be difficult to find space to store it. The room itself is small and very little storage space. The bed is a standard double bed size, (photo 15)
With a small open fronted wardrobe and a plain desk, with tea making facilities on it. (Photo 16). And the only other room is a walk in shower room and W.C (17).
Our final thoughts.
It was disappointing for us, as it looked so nice from the road, we were hoping for more. Restaurant and bar are very basic, uninspiring, simple bar like areas. The public toilets was of concern and care will be needed. The chalets are very small and basic, and we feel we would not be able to use this hotel ourselves with our need to use a wheelchair.
All the internet photos of hotel excited us enough to want us to visit this hotel, and approaching it looked very nice from the road, (photo 1) but what a disappointment for us, it is now tired looking, still in need of maintenance and a good paint job to try to brighten the place up. The approach towards hotel was not appealing enough for us (photo 2) and although a decent sized car park, (photo 3) the only disabled bays we could see where alongside the disabled chalets, but at least we could park close
enough to hotel entrance (photo 4). This has quite a steep ramp leading into hotel, but my wife who is my carer, managed to push me up into hotel. The entrance to hotel is very basic, and reception area not at all inspiring (photo 5) Warmly greeted by friendly staff who did all they could to help us. Inside, the lounge had table and chairs, but no sofas to lounge on, and this serves as the bar area as well, (photo 6) big enough to get wheelchair around though. Lounge areas looked acceptable but did not excite us at all, The bar itself functions, (photo 7) but we had a nice cup of coffee. The restaurant again was very basic, nothing inspiring. (Photo 8) with pleasant seating under windows. (9)
If you like us are just visiting, then we need to use the public toilets, and you reach this down a very steep ramp, ( photo 10, the photo is misleading as it does not show how steep the ramp really is ) You cannot get a wheelchair in there, so I had to get up out of my wheelchair to be able to push open the door (11) and get into the toilet area, but it is just an ordinary toilet, with no disabled amenities available, so no grab rails or pull cord, (12) and I was concerned as it smelt a bit and I felt it needed cleaning, so in no way was I going to use the toilet. Going outside into corridor again, was of concern, with a very steep ramp to get up to bar area, and as I had gone to toilets on my own, it was a very hard struggle to get up ramp, so if you have to use toilet then have help to get you up inside hotel again.
There are terrace areas to enjoy, but disabled could not use these areas, as steps to get up and down (photo 13)
There are disabled chalets available as separate from main hotel (photo 14) a good idea, with parking right outside your chalet, but they badly need redecorating and maintenance on the outside, the present grey colour does nothing to give appeal, it’s just a functional colour they used. there is a step to get up into narrow doorway, so you may need to get out of chair so that carer can help you get inside, then fold the chair up to carry in, but it will be difficult to find space to store it. The room itself is small and very little storage space. The bed is a standard double bed size, (photo 15)
With a small open fronted wardrobe and a plain desk, with tea making facilities on it. (Photo 16). And the only other room is a walk in shower room and W.C (17).
Our final thoughts.
It was disappointing for us, as it looked so nice from the road, we were hoping for more. Restaurant and bar are very basic, uninspiring, simple bar like areas. The public toilets was of concern and care will be needed. The chalets are very small and basic, and we feel we would not be able to use this hotel ourselves with our need to use a wheelchair.
