A wholesome way to shop
4
4
Date of visit: October 2025
I am a disabled person. I have experience of challenges around: a hidden impairment and moving around.
Overall Rating
Good
Weigh Ahead is a lovely wee shop that is a joy to look at both inside and out. Before I even went in, I was drawn in by the beautiful hand-painted signs and cute window displays. It is immediately obvious that the space was designed lovingly and with the community in mind. There are signs throughout the shop highlighting the local suppliers and a shelf for a book swap. When I visited, there were even free fruit and vegetables from the garden to take away. Weigh Ahead is not strictly a zero waste shop, but the refills are definitely a highlight. They have the classics like cereals, flour and pulses, but also tea, spices, sweets, cleaning supplies and lots more. You can also get a variety of other organic products as well as arts, crafts and toys. The price on some of the products makes them more treats than everyday items for me, but if you remember to bring some containers, you can definitely get some good deals on refills.
Disabled Access In and Around
Average
There are two shallow steps down to the front door. The door opens to the inside right. There is generally enough space inside to navigate and the doors and aisles are just wide enough for my powerchair (62 cm), but there is not always a good opportunity to turn, so I took the long way around on occasions. So it does take some concentration at times, but it also seemed like the staff would be happy to move some things to make more space. I could reach a lot of the displays, especially the ones on tables, but some shelves were too high up to reach from a seated position. The flour bins closest to the window would also be hard to reach in a wheelchair and I had some help from staff getting a drink from the fridge. The touchscreens on the weighing stations are too high up to reach from a seated position, but it is easy and quick to ask for help – most people who can reach end up asking for help because they do not quite understand how to use the system.
Accessible facilities: Single-level venue, Step-free entrance
Parking & Transport
Average
I travelled to this place by personal vehicle
There is a disabled parking bay in front of the library next door. There is also on-street parking. The cathedral car park is a 0.2-mile/3-minute walk or wheel away. The train station is a 0.3-mile/6-minute walk or wheel away.
Accessible facilities: Public or on street parking
Accessible Toilets
There are no toilets at this venue.
Staff
Excellent
When I asked about a ramp, the staff member seemed a bit unsure at first, but did not make me feel at any point like I should not have asked and ended up finding the ramp quite quickly. They left me to it most of the time, but were there to help when needed.
