Half of this bookshop is not accessible to wheelchair users
2
2
Date of visit: April 2016
I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: accessing toilets and moving around.
I use or have experience of: disabled toilet
Overall Rating
Poor
The entrance is step free and the bookshop has room for manoeuvre in a wheelchair, but there is not lift to the basement, so half of the bookshop is completely inaccessible to wheelchair users. Not recommended.
Disabled Access In and Around
Poor
The double doors at the entrance made it difficult for me to get in because one of the doors was closed. There is a very small step up into the stop, nothing that should bother most wheelchair users, more of a bump. Most ground floor bookshelves can be reached in a wheelchair. Half of the bookshop is in the basement, which is reached via a staircase and there is no lift.
Parking & Transport
Poor
There are no step-free stations nearby. There are several bus routes serving nearby Charing Cross Road.
Accessible Toilets
0I did not find a toilet in the bookshop.
Staff
Bad
The staff are not greatly interested in their customers, and when I asked whether there was a lift to the basement, the response was just "No" - no apology, no explanation, no offer of other assistance (such as for example "Is there anything you'd like me to fetch you from the basement for you to look at?").
Additional Information
I don't recommend this bookshop to wheelchair users. Given that wheelchair users cannot use half of the bookshop at all, it is likely that Waterstones are exposing themselves to possible legal difficulties vis-à-vis the Equality Act 2010. It has been a legal requirement since 1995 to give equal access to disabled people. They have had over 20 years to sort this out. I'm amazed they haven't done so. Disgraceful.
