Overview

I attended for a work visit in a manual self propelled chair. I found the hotel difficult to traverse in a manual chair due to the long ramps, steep ramps, broken lifts and thick pile carpets. I saw a 5* review from a lady with her husband in electric chair. My review was as a solo traveller in a manual chair. I did not have carer or husband etc to assist me. The hotel was 4* and an old building on a hill. I know old buildings are harder to change. They have tried to make accessible but I found it too hard an experience to enjoy. My room was in the west wing at end of two long carpeted ramps, prob intended for suitcases not chairs. My work conference was past the bar up two flights of stairs, (also used for weddings). There was no accessible toilet on the same floor as the function room. The stair lifts did not work until I was checking out. The elevator to bar and other floors were working. Part of the reason it was so exhausting for me was we were moved between rooms throughout the day for breaks, coffees, lunch, dinner etc. This meant traversing the entire hotel all day long. It was a zig zag about all day.

Transport & Parking

Took an airport taxi there. Booked a wheelchair taxi back at reception but normal private hire car arrived. Gentle ramped entrance at front. No steps to front entrance.

Access

Room: I had booked an accessible room which had a great bathroom, but the bed was too high to transfer. The most annoying was the sofa in front of the window blocking any access to pull curtains or to open a window. How do they think someone in a wheelchair can reach over a sofa? The desk was 20cm from sofa so no way to access end of sofa to reach curtain. Accessibility: this was a nightmare because of the thick carpet in the hotel. I felt like I was wheeling thru mud even on the flat. It was such an effort. They have put ramps in to bridge the levels but some were impractical/exhausting in a manual chair. The ramps were carpeted, and so long. It was exhausting. Some ramps were very steep. I avoided the one by the bar as it was too steep for me to get back up from the accessible toilet and went to a toilet on the flat on the other side of the hotel, a 10min round trip. Photos - These long corridor ramps were the ramp to bedroom corridors. Doesn't look as bad in photos but this was thick pile carpet. Coming back down, I barely moved unless I pushed. There was so much friction, like being in mud. If you are not moving on a slope coming down, it's not easy going up. Toilets: There were three accessible toilets, but I only used two. I avoided the one at the bar as too steep. The one at restaurant was easiest as the restaurant had laminate, woohoo. The third required two stair lifts to avoid the two sets of stairs. It was at the end of another long carpeted corridor. Was like being at the gym, going to the loo. Stair Lifts: Sadly the stair lifts were not working until the lunchtime I was checking out. I was assured they had been working, but the engineer told me that one had bolts that should have been removed stopping the lift from moving. The second lift had a screwdriver left inside from installation. Although recently installed, they were never tested or tried. I needed the lifts to get to the conference rooms or disabled toilet so I had the humiliation of pulling myself up stairs and colleagues carrying my chair and bags up, everyone watching. I was offered no alternatives to the lifts. If my colleagues hadn't helped me I would have missed the event.

Toilets

The one in the restaurant was easiest to use but not large enough for transfer. The one in the bar I could not access as the ramp was too steep for me. The one on third upper floor past conference rooms was at end of long carpeted corridor. It had an annoying ramp door threshold and the door opened inward so as well as pushing a heavy door inward you had to get over the upward lip ramp. I felt that between the little slope and heavy door I was being pushed back out of the door. It was an effort. This one by restaurant and on the third floor was too small to transfer from the side. Both accessible toilets were full of grab bars etc.

Staff

The staff were very helpful and kept trying to help me as it was clear I was struggling with ramps, carpets and broken lifts. The bar staff looked after me personally by coming over to me when I had no drink to ask if they could get me a drink. It was sweet and they would bring my round of drinks to the table. The restaurant staff helped me by carrying food and drinks for me. The staff really did try, and i was abrupt and angry with them about hating thr hotel. I just wanted to go home but I couldn't.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

Lots of sanitiser everywhere. Some staff wearing masks.

Photos