Overview

Slug & Lettuce is a bar/restaurant chain with branches across the UK, including two in Cardiff. The main entrance is on St Mary's Street, while the "accessible" entrance is on Westgate Street next to the bus stop. I met a friend at this venue for a late lunch as I had read that it was accessible. While it is, there are a few issues that would make me think twice about returning.

Transport & Parking

I wheeled my way to the restaurant as I was already in town, but my friend parked 320 metres away in the multistorey car park at St David's Shopping Centre, which has accessible parking spaces on every level except level 8. Please note that parking charges apply, even with a Blue Badge. There’s also a convenient bus stop at the rear of the building on Westgate Street, where the 44, 45, 49, 50, and C1 services operate. The closest train station is Cardiff Central Station, which is just over 320 metres away.

Access

Accessibility is my only real issue with this venue. I enjoyed the food, the service was good, and I was able to order at my table, which is handy given the height of the bar. I also think this is helpful for those who may not be able to order at the bar for any reason. My main issue with access is that the location is structured in such a way that those who use a wheelchair, mobility device or walking aid can't enter the building without first sending someone up the stairs at the front to alert the staff to their presence. The main entrance has high concrete stairs leading up to it, while the second entrance has no call button or alternative method to communicate with staff that you've arrived. I’m sure there’s a phone number, but you should be able to show up on a whim. When my friend notified the staff that we’d arrived, we went around the building to Westgate Street to use the alternative entrance. The entrance has two half-size doors, which my friend and the staff member had to hold open. Straight ahead, there are stairs, and to the right, a lift. The lift is small—just big enough for a powerchair—and requires a button to be held all the way to the top, which can be demanding for many disabled people. The door opens close to the kitchen, at the side of the long bar top. There was enough room to get through, but on exiting, large rubber buckets blocked the lift door from closing. Rather than move them, the member of staff helping me effectively made me squeeze through the space between the bar top and the door. There is plenty of space to move around inside the venue, and power sockets at some of the booths are handy for charging phones and powerchairs. A high table with stools was placed close to the accessible toilet, which made things a little awkward for me and the couple dining there.

Toilets

The accessible toilet is serviceable but could be better maintained. The door requires a RADAR key to enter and opens outwards. There is space for a right-side transfer, and the toilet has grab rails on either side. However, the rails are white and contrast poorly with the slightly darker white walls. The small sink is close to the toilet bowl and features a single grab rail on the right and a lever-style tap. The red cord hung to the floor, but it is centred in the transfer space, so please take care not to pull it accidentally while transferring. The room can accommodate a powerchair user and one additional person, but not much more.

Staff

The staff were pleasant, but I can’t help marking down a little due to the issue we encountered when trying to leave.

Photos