Two Fat Ladies, At The Buttery, Glasgow. April 2011

Posted on May 4, 2011 by Michelle

Review by Kathy:  I found the most Amazing restaurant in Glasgow which I went to with two colleagues whilst at a conference.  There is a small step to get in but most wheelchairs would be able to get up it with no bother.  The front doors are double so both open.  Inside is flat all the way and the toilets are disabled friendly including having handles because one of their employees was disabled so they said this is how it needs to be and it was!  The ‘Ladies’ is a bit tight for chairs but still easily accessible. 

The food is STUNNING.  I had tempura salmon in a honey and sesame seed sauce to start with and ended up with hand made petit fours at the end of the evening and I could not find anything at all to find fault with.  Even when we said we needed 3 separate bills and we were all spread around the table they didn’t bat an eyelid and the whole dining experience was first class.  I wasn’t too good on my feet as I was waiting for my knee op but they couldn’t do enough for me.  service was there when you needed it but never intrusive.  in fact I was so impressed I went back again after conference had finished and they were just as good and just as helpful.  They do get booked up so advance booking is advisable.  Just tell them that you are in a wheelchair and they will be waiting for you to make sure everything runs very smoothly.  Not only that but when I asked how they made the blue cheese ice cream [yes, that's right,  to go with the pears in red wine and port sauce] chef actually gave me the whole recipe! 

They have 2 menus, one lunch and one pre / post theatre which is very inexpensive but still top quality and one a la carte which is not expensive.  Here’s the link http://twofatladiesrestaurant.com/buttery/menus/29

It really is one of the very best places I have ever eaten in and I have eaten in quite a few.  The whole evening from moment of arrival to the leaving at the front door was 5 star and could not be faulted.

Review by Kathy

Rating: ★★★★★★★★★★ 10 out of 10

Two Fat Ladies, At The Buttery.  652 Argyle Street, Glasgow G3 8UF. Tel: 0141 221 8188

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Santander, Sheffield, 25th March 2011

Posted on March 29, 2011 by Michelle

On the morning of Friday 25th March, I visited Santander in Telegraph House on High Street in Sheffield. This branch of Santander has made some attempts at being accessible for disabled people, but sadly it is not quite there. The door was very heavy to open, despite a sign stating otherwise, but in their favour there were no steps and there was a ramp to get inside.

I had to queue for longer than it was comfortable for me to stand up, and although there were several chairs nearby, if I had sat down I would have lost my place in the ever-increasing queue. The two members of staff behind the counter were doing their best, but more staff could have come and served the waiting customers.

There were signs saying that there are hearing loops, and the Santander Website states that these are in place in every branch. I do not use a hearing aid so cannot say whether this was working or not.

Only one of the counter spaces had a lowered ledge for wheelchair users or little people to use, for those who would have trouble reaching the high counter. Why there was only one of these provided I do not know, and the pen that should have been attached to this lowered ledge was missing. This is clearly not good enough, and it made it feel more like a tokenistic effort at accessibility rather than a serious attempt.

Finding information about accessibility on the Santander website took a bit of work, but I found this page, which links to information about pages in accessible formats, a page about website accessibility and general technical help information. Most disappointingly, when you use the branch locator tool, the results provide no information about whether the branch you are searching for is accessible or not. So other than learning that all their branches have a hearing aid loop system installed, there is no further information about physical access to their bank.

The website also details how customers can receive information from them in accessible formats such as large print, braille, audio, PC disk. Customers can also contact them using Typetalk or textphone, and can request magnifying sheets, clipboards or cheque writing templates.

These are all important provisions, but basic information about branch accessibility is sadly lacking, and the branch itself could certainly have done better. Lowered ledges at all counters, pens attached to these ledges, and more staff on the counter when necessary, could make a big difference to make this branch accessible to disabled customers.

Review by Philippa.

Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 7 out of 10

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McDonalds, Metro Centre, 11/2/11

Posted on February 12, 2011 by Michelle

Progress, they say, is a myth. If so, it’s one of the most pervasive myths of corporate culture. When a shop closes down for refurbishment, the power tools and donkey work are never hidden behind a facade which promises ‘a more irritating, enervating shopping experience’. Things, we are told, will get better. Things can only get better.

Refits, by their sheer nature, make one expect progression.  New furnishings, better decor and all the latest gadgets are some of the few things we expect from a refurbishment.  And we look forward to them. Normally.  And they make the establishment better. Normally. 

But not in this case. McDonalds at the Metro Centre is unusal in that the main seating area is up a long staircase and there is no lift. You can enter from the shopping mall directly onto the first floor, but that entails someone in your dining party going down the staircase to purchase the food and then bring it back up.  There is an escalator, but it is in the shopping mall, a few hundred yards from McDonalds.  However, McDonalds got around this by making the limited seating downstairs accessible. It was designated for the disabled and for pushchairs. Fair enough, fair do’s and all that.

The reburbishment finished, I went to the restaurant yesterday to find that all the disabled seating had been replaced with tall stools. As you may recall, I have something of an issue with tall stools. One table, yes one table, with 2 low sung seats has been designated disabled. And that’s it.

So, if you wish to go to McDonalds in the Metro Centre (near M&S), you can either hope that the one table happens to be free (some chance), or you can buy your food, leave the restaurant, walk 200 yards, go up the escalator and re-enter the restaurant, or you can find somewhere to eat that actually values their customers, and welcomes them, whether abled bodied or not.

Rating: ★☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 1 out of 10

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Chiquitos, Durham 12/1/11

Posted on January 24, 2011 by Michelle

I once had a friend who lived in the most illogical house I’ve ever had the privilege of visiting. She lived in the most wonderful bungalow, laid out beautifully and perfectly built for those with mobility problems or the elderly. It was just a shame that to access it you had to climb up through her garden via about 40 concrete steps, covered in slippery moss without a hint of handrail, or lights. It was utterely lethal, especially in the dark or in winter. If it did have a handrail, no doubt it would have notches on it, for all those fallen.  It’s astounding that anyone would build a bungalow so high up with such poor access. 

Then I came accross Chiquitos in Durham and wondered if the same architect had been at play. The restaurant toilets are up two flights of stairs. Even if I had not used a crutch I would have been daunted. Upon enquiry (yes I had to ask, despite having a crutch) I was informed that ‘of course we have a ground floor disabled toilet’. Brilliant I thought, well done you. Until I realised that the disabled toilet was hidden behind a double fire door. A double fire door that has no disability access pads to automatically open the doors. Heavy fire doors. Heavy. Unbelievable. How on earth do they expect wheelchairs to get through? It’s as if they were told that legally they had to have a disabled toilet, then just shoved it out the back as far away as possible. Behind double, heavy fire doors. Have I mentioned that before?

It’s a real shame, because the restaurant itself was fine, the food was as expected and the staff were, well prompt and efficient, if not attentive. Overall the experience would be satisfactory, although to be fair this is the second Chiquitos I’ve visited and had a complaint to make. (See previous review.) But it was spoilt by the restaurant adhering to the letter, rather than the spirit of the law.

Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ 6 out of 10

Posted in Eating Out, Entertainment | 2 Comments

High Chairs!

Posted on December 31, 2010 by Michelle

This is not about any particular establishment, just a rant about the proliferation of ‘high chairs’ or stools that are appearing all over the place. Why? Ok, they look sort of ok, but damn it they are hard to get into. But every waiting room, restaurant, cafe, etc. is filled with these barriers to comfort!  This picture was taken at a car dealership: they are everywhere!

I cannot for the life of me get onto these things, my hip just forbids it!  I suspect there are many mobility impaired people out there who feel the same. If you are in a wheelchair, how the heck are you supposed to reach the table?  Using sticks or crutches mean you probably don’t have the agility to hop onto one.  And poor Menieres sufferers can probably get on to the stool, but will certainly have trouble staying on!  Please, please, please can I ask anyone who has any influence in this area to bring back normal chairs and tables, we miss them. Thanks.

Rating: ☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆☆ 0 out of 10

Posted in Cultural, Public Services | 12 Comments

The Thistle Hotel Birmingham, 5/12/10

Posted on December 31, 2010 by Michelle

If there was a hotel in Narnia, it would be the Thistle Hotel.  I can honestly say I have never been so cold.  This could be a blessing at the height of summer, but in the depths of winter, it was torture.  I mentioned this to several staff, who all agreed with me, but offered no solutions!  The receptionist even shared with me her survival tactics of wearing (company illegal) non uniform garments to stave off an early, frozen, parting from this mortal coil.  The restaurant staff took the unusal approach of dancing everywhere, anything to keep their joints from seizing up.  Me?  I took advantage of the emergency blanket the room provided, that horrible scratchy thing stuck in cellophane at the top of the wardrobe. But I was warm, just.

As for the hotel, the room was fine, large and well decorated with all the whistles and bells one expects from a good hotel nowadays.  The view from the room was a disappointment, a huge concete multi-story, but at least the restaurant offered the pleasing visual of a stunning local church. The restaurant is quite a long way from the rooms, but there are ramps everywhere for wheelchair access.  Food was very good, I certainly recommend the restaurant, but the hotel bar charges, well, hotel prices, so brace yourself.

On the whole, it is a pleasant hotel with accommodating staff, though probably best avoided if you have Raynauds, or don’t really enjoy the Narnian experience.

Rating: ★★★★★★☆☆☆☆ 6 out of 10

Posted in Eating Out, Hotels | 2 Comments

The Bacchus, Birmingham 3/12/10

Posted on December 31, 2010 by Michelle

I’ve learnt that life is full of mixed pleasures.  And of course it shouldn’t, and couldn’t be anything else.  I was reminded of this on a business trip to Brimingham where, with a rare few hours to spare, I decided to visit the German Christmas market in the city centre.  After a pleasant but tiring perusal, I looked for somewhere to sit for a while.

I came across a most unexpected treasure, The Bacchus.  However, as in life, this treasure presented itself as a mixed blessing.  Why?  Because the pub is hard to find, located down a steep flight of spiral stairs, and is frustratingly laid out for anyone with mobility problems.

To be fair, there is a lift down to the Bacchus (fittingly located underground) but there are still narrow aisles and lots of nooks and crannies (often with a couple of steps to navigate) and the place is (of course) quite dark. For those with visual impairment this might be a problem.

The Bacchus was pretty full when I arrived. After navigating a couple of steps I found myself in a glorious crannie, decorated with scenes that could be taken from an Eqyptian tomb.  Very cosy and wonderful on the eye.  This is one of the pleasures of The Bacchus, it’s intriguing decor and a sense of decadence.

Then came the dilemma. I was entrenched in a delightful nook, the place was now packed out, so to leave the table to buy a glass of wine at the bar would inevitably mean losing the table.  That would mean standing with shopping bags and a crutch.  And that was something I couldn’t do.  After waiting for about 10 minutes for a passing member of staff, I asked for help.  After explaining (wasn’t it obvious enough?) he was happy to go and purchase the drink for me.  Improvements could be made if the staff actually volunteered to help disabled customers.  Before leaving I had a lovely chat with the manager, and mentioned this.  He seemed genuinely interested the issues I put to him and I was glad I took the time to chat to him.

Overall, I think The Bacchus is a pleasure on the eye and the senses, warm and cosy (hard to achieve in a city centre pub) and the staff were friendly and helpful. But like all mixed pleasures, beware of the downside, mainly those bloody steps!  Oh, but to answer the question, the Egyptian Gods are definitely a help!

Rating: ★★★★★★★☆☆☆ 7 out of 10

Burlington Arcade
126 New St, Birmingham, West Midlands B2 4JQ
0121 632 5445

Posted in Eating Out, Entertainment, Pubs | 2 Comments

Odeon Cinema, Metro Centre, 19/11/2010

Posted on November 21, 2010 by Michelle


I’m the girl with the mousy hair, hooked to the silver screen. Ever since I was young, I’ve loved going to the cinema. The flicks have been an escape for me from the mundane problems of my life for years, partly due to my devotion to the magic of celluloid and partly due to my addiction to salted (never sweet) popcorn.

For many years my favourite cinema was the UCI cinema at the Metro Centre, Gateshead, which later became an Odeon in one of those bizarre metamorphoses which the chain cinemas seem to undergo on a seasonal basis, transitioning from UCI to Virgin Vue to Odeon to Empire with the same frequency with which swingers swap car keys at the end of the evening.

I liked the UCI before I became disabled, but after I developed my disability I came to love it, for one very simple reason: the screens didn’t have any steps. Instead, the seats were arranged on a gentle, carpeted  slope which was easier to negotiate with a stick than a set of coke-syrup-slicked stairs. So when the UCI closed to make way for a new Odeon in the new Qube mall which, it was announced, would have ‘terraced seating’, i.e. screens with stairs, I worried that my idyll was about to come to an end. The one saving grace was that the new cinema would, I was assured, have IMAX screens, a Costa coffee concession and a swanky bar. Would these fripperies make up for the loss of my gently-sloping screens; or would they merely rub salt in the wound of my loss?

Well, yes, sort of.  Especially if you are prepared to fork out lots of dosh for the Gallery seats which are accessible by lift. Annoyingly, though, that lift is hidden around the corner, isn’t signposted, and you practically have to beg to use it.  However, once upstairs, the gallery bar is pleasant and leads straight through to the Gallery seats, which are large, comfortable and have the advantage of being right at the back of the cinema.  Not so good if you don’t like heights, but hey, you get a great view.  The seats cost £17 each, but come with free drink and popcorn. One tiny bag of popcorn.  I adore popcorn (have I mentioned this before?) and for £17 I want my money’s worth, so I like to take a large bag with me and try and stuff a couple popcorns more in there! Don’t judge me.

The bar serves quite decent ‘pub’grub type food, you can get pizza, burger (but no chips), nachos, sandwiches etc all for a reasonable price. Not gourmet, but on a day out shopping or going to the cinema, I don’t want gourmet.  The biggest advantage is that everyone forgets it’s there, so on a very busy day, when everyone is fighting to get a seat at a restaurant, you can pretty much guarantee getting a seat. Champion!  And furthermore you also get a good view of the shoppers below, perfect if you are a people watcher like me.

So, does the new Odeon live up to expectations? Yes, with just a few niggles. They need to signpost the lift and not make people feel guilty for using it, they need to make the popcorn in the Gallery unlimited (ok, so it’s nothing to do with disability, but humour me here) and they should stop putting those damned high stools in the bar, which only the most incredibly nimble and agile can use.  Apart from that this mousy haired girl will continue to enjoy the silver screen. So join me in some popcorn, raise your cola in salute, and see you there.

Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ 9 out of 10

Posted in Cultural, Eating Out, Entertainment | 6 Comments

Chiquito Restaurant Bar, 25/09/2010

Posted on November 1, 2010 by Michelle

Chiquito Restaurant Bar

Eating out is one of life’s little pleasures. You save up, you choose your company and you pick your restaurant carefully.  Whether it’s for a special occasion or something more casual there is no doubt that in the current economic climate it is a treat for most of us. Deciding upon Chiquitos at the Metro Centre, the evening started off pleasantly enough: entry to the restaurant is all flat ground and we were seated at a comfortable booth. This did require one step up, but using my crutch this was possible. Entry to the bar is up several step, negotiable for crutch users, but inaccessible for those with sever mobility issues. However the staff bring drinks to the table if required so this was not a problem.

Staff were accommodating during the evening and the food was average; although overpriced in my opinion. Lighting was subdued and toilets are ground floor albeit small. It was nothing particularly special, but not bad either.

However, as we prepared to leave, three wheelchair users arrived. Unable to gain access to the bar, and with no suitable table ready for them they were shunted into the corridor whilst staff tried to sort out an eating area for them. This took some considerable time. We watched in amazement and horror as they were pushed past and tutted at by other customers because they were seemingly blocking the entranceway (there was no real inconvenience to other customers by the way, as they could easily avoid the ‘blockage’ by going up the steps and entering via the bar). During this time they were not offered any refreshments despite being obviously unable to access the bar. Neither were they offered menus or asked if they required any assistance. Pushed to the side, pushed past and made to feel like an inconvenience, no welcome could have been worse for these people. As I left the restaurant I felt angry for them. So when choosing one of life’s little pleasures, choose wisely.

Rating: ★★★★★☆☆☆☆☆ 5 out of 10

Chiquito Restaurant Bar, Metrocentre, Gateshead, NE11 9YZ

Tel: 0191 4600782

www.chiquito.co.uk

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Tyneside Coffee Rooms, 31/07/2010

Posted on November 1, 2010 by Michelle

Tyneside Coffee Rooms

It can be very hard to find somewhere to eat on Saturday lunchtime in Newcastle particularly when there is a pre-season friendly on at St. James’ Park. The pub will be filled with people downing beer and burgers to fuel up for the match and the other cafes and restaurants are filled with people trying to avoid the supporters.  If it can be hard to find a table in an average eatery then getting served in a Newcastle institution like the Tyneside Coffee Rooms can be a nightmare.  So when we decided at 2pm on a Saturday afternoon to make the Tyneside our first review for this blog, we knew we might have to take the lift straight back downstairs.

Previously, visiting the multi-story building could be a daunting experience but the newly refurbished Tyneside Cinema has facilities that excel. The lifts hold large scooters or wheelchairs with ease, feeling solid and safe, depositing us at the second floor coffee rooms (the bar is on the third floor). Luckily we seemed to arrive in a short lull and managed to blag a spot.  Service is at the table which is very helpful and whilst there are no Braille menus, I have no doubt the staff would be happy to read out choices.  Staff are friendly and welcoming and, as I was able to observe, they make every effort to move chairs and tables to accommodate wheelchair users. There isn’t a lot of space between tables for those with mobility issues, but it is navigable.  Chairs are red plush to echo cinema seats, comfortable and sturdy without arms.  As part of the refurbishment, fire safety was given priority with refuge spots and evacuation chairs on every floor – very reassuring!  Disabled toilets are on every floor, and whilst the second floor disabled toilet is currently out of order, the nearby lift makes it easy to get to access the first or third floor alternatives.

The food is delightfully comforting, expect to pay under £5 a head for a snack and a drink and up to £10 for a full meal with refreshment. Don’t be put off by the popularity of the Tyneside Coffee Rooms, make it a regular haunt when in Newcastle, and don’t forget to visit the cinema.

Rating: ★★★★★★★★★☆ 9 out of 10

10 Pilgrim Street

Newcastle Upon Tyne

Open Daily 10am – 10pm

Tel: 0191 2275520

http://www.tynesidecinema.co.uk/indulge/

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