BBAA 2019 Winners

We were delighted to attend the Blue Badge Access Awards at the Langham Hotel in London last night. It was a pleasure to celebrate people, venues and organisations that go out of their way to make everyone feel welcome!

The Awards

In case you missed it, here are the winners and the shortlist from each of the award categories: 

• The Euan’s Guide People’s Choice Award was won by Cottage in the Dales.

Image of the exterior of Cottage in the Dales

It’s not surprising that the cottages came out as the public’s favourite, they have received glowing reviews on Euan’s Guide! One reviewer commented that “The standard and quality of this cottage is outstanding! Every base has been covered... From wheelchairs to hearing loops and so many more too numerous to list… The hosts really do go the extra mile to make sure their guests stay is as carefree and happy as possible.” Read reviews for Cottage in the Dales >>

The shortlist included Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, G Live, Glasgow Airport, and the Bridge Theatre.

• The Arnold Fewell Award for Most Inclusive was awarded to The Deep in Hull.

The aquarium has a number of 5-star reviews on Euan’s Guide. They have their own Changing Places toilet as well as other facilities making the building very accessible. They also regularly hold accessible events in the form of ‘Quiet Days’ and ‘Tranquil Tuesdays’. One reviewer said that “it's a fantastic day out with such a variety of things to see and interact with.” Read reviews for The Deep >>

G Live, Glasgow Airport, City Hall Cardiff, Space Needle, Shakespeare’s Globe, Table Mountain Aerial Cableway, Azhikode Munakkal Beach, Omni Pods & Cabins, The O2, Talisker Distillery, the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art, Kindred, Monkey Haven, the British Library Knowledge Centre Theatre, Bridge Theatre, Dulwich Picture Gallery, Traverse Theatre, and Moors Valley Country Park & Forest were all shortlisted for this award.

• The Above + Beyond Award went to Jo Dewhurst from Moor Hall Hotel & Spa.

Shortlisted for this award were Watford FC, Canvas & Campfires, Attitude is Everything, and Step Change Studios.

• The Best Hotel in the Upmarket category went to Sea Containers, while the Best Boutique Hotel went to Kings Head Hotel.

Shortlisted in the Best Hotel (Upmarket) category were St. Ermin's Hotel, Carden Park Hotel, The Beaumont, The Ritz-Carlton Wolfsburg, South Place Hotel, and QO Amsterdam. Shortlisted in the Best Boutique Hotel category were Cottage in the Dales, One Shore Street, Otter Pool Barn, The Carnoustie Golf Hotel, Brickhouse Cottages, the Tamburlaine, Sireci Istanbul, and The Brisley Bell.

• The Best Upmarket Bar was awarded to 1881 per SAGARDI. CAYA Club won the Best Budget Bar.

Strathallan's rooftop bar, Athenaeum, Bar Américain & The Crazy Coqs at Brasserie Zédel, Knight & Garter, and Lyaness were featured on the upmarket shortlist. Coffee #1 Newbury, Teatulia, Espresso Library, The Velvet Coaster, and ICEBAR London were on the budget shortlist.

• The Conran Award for Best Upmarket Restaurant went to The Three Chimneys. Click here to read its reviews on Euan’s Guide >>.  The Best Budget Restaurant was awarded to Hicce. 

Shortlisted in the upmarket category were M Victoria Street, HIDE, Xavier Pellicer, Mere, and The Ivy Winchester, Richmond & Cambridge. The Best Budget Restaurant shortlist included Parker's Tavern, La Goccia, The Bell, Days bazaar Café, and Kindred. 

Images of the Cottage in the Dales, The Deep and The Three Chimneys being presented their awards

• The Employee of the Year Award went to Jeannine Cubbin from Anfield Catering.

A big congratulations to Jeannine and everyone else shortlisted in this category: Kathryn Townsend, Barclays; Damon Rose, BBC Ouch; David Bellwood, Shakespeare’s Globe; Jo Dewhurst, Moor Hall Hotel & Spa; Holly Williamson, Rudding Park. 

• Shakespeare's Globe picked up the Leonard Cheshire Award for Inclusive Employment.

Barclays, BBC, M Restaurants, The Hoxby Collective, and Rapport Guest Services were all shortlisted in this category.

• The Historic England Listed Building Award went to Woodhorn Museum. 

Shortlisted in this category were: ICE London, One Great George St; Country Living Lansdown Grove Hotel; Kimpton Fitzroy London Hotel; Kings Head Hotel. 

• And finally, the award for the Best Accessible Toilet went to Mere restaurant in London.

HIDE, Curve Theatre, St Fagans National Museum of History, Sarah Chapman Skinesis Clinic, Home Grown, Kindred, Athenaeum, Humble Grape, Bocca di Lupo, and Mobiloo were all shortlisted in this category but sadly missed out on the award.

About the Award Ceremony

It was a fun filled night with Blue Badge Style's Fiona Jarvis and Broadcaster Mik Scarlet giving out the awards. Comedian Laurence Clark had the audience in stitches and the clothes looked great on the fashion show. We really enjoyed meeting and catching up with friends old and new over a glass of wine and tasty canapes.

Blue Badge Style's Fiona Jarvis said: “As founder of Blue Badge Style & co-founder of the BBAAs I and my team were surprised and pleased by the reaction of the audience last night. There was a real buzz and excitement in the room not just from the awards but also the inclusive fashion show by Samanta Bullock. There was also a willingness from venues to improve their access and feeling of surprise when they realised how important stylish, well equipped, accessible toilets are to people who are disabled! Something people take for granted if they’re able bodied.”

Photographs from the inclusive fashion show by Samanta Bullock

A massive congratulations from Euan’s Guide to all of the winners and for everyone who made it onto the shortlist! Lots of the places featured above have already listed their access information on Euan’s Guide and it was great to see them rewarded for their accessibility.

The Blue Badge Access Awards are designed to celebrate thoughtful and stylish inclusive design across the world. We were pleased to support this year’s awards. As a charity, we want to make it easier for disabled people to find great places to go and these awards celebrate places doing exactly that!

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