Overview

I popped into Starbucks for lunch, a coffee and to charge my phone. I chose this location as I find most Starbucks branches to be consistent. I know there will likely be level surfaces, an accessible toilet, Wi-Fi and helpful staff. I was mostly correct.

Transport & Parking

Located on the Kingsway, it's not the most central Starbucks but it's handy if you're in the area or need a break from driving. There are three accessible parking spaces immediately outside of the entrance, as well as two EV Charging spaces which feature a Type2 charger, no cables are provided. There are an estimated 20 additional standard parking spaces.

Access

As with most branches, the access is good. There's plenty of space between the tables and a lowered counter to collect your order after you've placed it. The shop is level and has plenty of seating. I had to move a chair, but I was able to comfortably sit in my wheelchair with my legs under the table. I didn't see any alternative formats, braille or tactile markings inside the building. There is tactile paving at the Zebra crossing in the car park. The door opens inward, has no touchpad and can be difficult to open due to the weight of it. I didn't observe a call button or other means to highlight that assistance is needed from outside.

Toilets

I wasn't able to use the accessible toilet, I initially thought it was in use but after 15 minutes of waiting, it was clear that it was not, leading me to believe it was out of order. Given the urgency during my wait, I had to use my walking stick to access the standard toilet. The toilet was clean, if not a little cramped, it had a standard toilet, a flush to the rear and a sink and hand dryer.

Staff

This was the most disappointing part of my visit. I placed my order easily enough but when I asked for a receipt, the server went off to prepare the order. I sat for a few minutes before she returned, looked at me blankly, and then realised I was still waiting for the receipt. When collecting my coffee and sandwich, the cup was placed on the counter and despite the server (a different member of staff) seeing that I was using a wheelchair, they didn't check that I was okay to carry the cup and turned away. Another customer saw the issue and offered to help, the server had turned back around by this point, looked at the customer then turned away once again. Whilst we should never assume that a disabled person needs help, I was surprised that they didn't even consider the safety aspect of this. It's clear that I need both hands to propel my chair, if I put the cup on my lap, it'd spill, if I put it between my legs, there's a risk of injury that any company would much prefer to avoid. Sadly, the last review for this location, written 5 years ago has a similar poor review.

Anything else you wish to tell us?

There's a drive-thru facility at this location. I found the other customers to be more attentive than the staff.

Photos