Overview

Great pub with good food, friendly staff and, unusually, disabled access. However, the disabled toilet is SO disappointing! James May should be ashamed!

Transport & Parking

One or two parking spaces at the front, with the main car park at the side. Lots of spaces, no disabled spaces identified. The car park surface is like a rolled hoggin. Generally smooth and level, but lumpy in places, especially if you're in a wheelchair. Good wheelchair access into the side door of the pub from the car park. Wide entrance door and level. So good to find this as it seems to be a rarity in so many pubs!

Access

Good wheelchair access into the side door of the pub from the car park. Wide entrance door and level - no steps. So good to find this as it seems to be a rarity in so many pubs!

Toilets

Accessible loo next to the ladies and gents loos - easy to find. Reasonable size loo, but door opens inwards, restricting space getting in and out. Two grab rails on either side of the sink, which is tucked is tucked in the corner, with a large litter bin underneath, and a small table with hand towels, effectively cutting off any access to the sink! Rather begs the question: why do you need two grab rails for the sink? The toilet is sited against the wall with lots of space to the right hand side, albeit taken up by two bins - one small and one large. The toilet has a drop down rail on the left hand side, against the wall, which is not very helpful as it should ideally be away from the wall on the open side. The rail is a pull-up and drop down, although the pull-up is damaged so it just swivels down when you grab it! There are no vertical grab rails on either side of the loo, and no horizontal grab rail on the wall side. All in all - difficult to use if you're transferring from a wheelchair. I prefer to stand up for a wee (yes I'm a bloke!) but can't walk very well so need vertical grab rails to hold on to. Impossible in this loo! I improvised by dropping the baby change unit down, so I could hold on to that - a bit of a challenge though! I am going into so much detail as I really like the pub, and this is the third time I have visited with my wife and 2 friends (12 April and 3 October 2024, and 6 March 2025). On the first occasion I spoke toa gentleman who seemed to be the duty manger, suggesting, as a minimum, that one of the sink grab rails could be sited to the right of the loo. He said he didn't see why not. On our second visit nothing had changed so I spoke to a young lady who seemed to be the duty manager. Same conversation and this time I pointed out the issue in the loo. Same response! On our third visit a couple of weeks ago nothing had changed, and hence this review, where I paid more attention to the toilet as a whole! I understand James May (former Top Gear presenter) is part owner of this pub / hotel. I guess my requests never got anywhere him, but wonder what his reaction would be if he knew?

Staff

Very helpful and friendly. No problems.

Photos