Overview

Visited recently whilst on a mobility scooter, using tickets bought by a friend. We did not book a special wheelchair bay as I did not want to take this space up and preferred to sit in a normal chair. I rang ahead explaining this and the manager arranged for my scooter to be stored in an unused wheelchair space within view. Access was good, staff were very helpful and quick to answer any questions. Only one of the four entrance doors is wheelchair accessible with a button to press to open the doors, however this is the furthest away from the disabled parking spots outside and there were no signs to lead me to an accessible door, by the time I reached the 3rd door I thought they were all the same and proceeded to use the normal entrance with pull open doors. It was only once inside that we could see the accessible doors - which were unfortunately not working properly. A visitor in a wheelchair was attempting to use them but the button wasnt opening the doors. My partner opened them for visitors. There is a slight lip on the door entrance but easily managed by both wheelchairs and scooters.

Transport & Parking

Lots of disabled parking just outside. There are various buses from North Shields ( Cobalt clipper - stops 0.3miles away) and Newcastle.

Access

If the accessible door was working then access would be excellent

Toilets

Just had a quick peek in the loo, not enough room to take my scooter in, whilst it appears larger than a normal sized loo there wasn't a lot of room for manoeuvering a wheelchair and having an assistant. It was clean and easy to locate, with a grab rail.

Staff

Very helpful

Anything else you wish to tell us?

I would revisit in either manual wheelchair or mobility scooter. Help via the access phone line was prompt and organised rapidly. There was a automated ticket machine set low enough in the wall for wheelchair users

Photos