Access Guide

Research and writing by Carolyn Davis and Rebecca Barton; Photographs by Andrew Davies; Carolyn Davis @15 January 2006

Preface to Access Cardiff: 2007

It comes as a surprise to us as the authors of this guide that we are supremely qualified for this task. We have had a combined fifty-five years’ (Ulp! Becky Barton wants me to mention that I’m the older.) pursuing physical access. Perceptions of access have made a difference in the quality of our lives – sometimes, at least for wheelchair-user Carolyn Davis, a significant difference in its stress level. Some examples of this include: my nearly being pushed down a flight of stairs by a well-meaning but less than mentally astute Park Ranger in Washington D.C.; being shot through space in Jamaica via a ramp angled at 70 degrees that looked as if it might otherwise be used to prop up rockets; and one that author Becky Barton still laughs at – our looking at a possible flat for me to buy in Cardiff and the estate agent’s pointing out the ‘convenient fire-escape’ – a stairwell that led from the third to the ground floor.

The truth, of course, is that access is no joke. Physical access and its subtle partner psychological access make a statement about society. To evaluate it means in certain ways to measure the truth behind that statement: is the society ready and able to include people who have disabilities in its day-to-day functions? The answers can be surprising. They frequently stem from the public’s basic lack of exposure to people’s normality outside of our disabilities and a lack of practice regarding what makes a structure accessible or not, physically and psychologically. Of course to increase access means to increase exposure. In this lies the education of society.

Access Cardiff -- 2007 is a directory and guide to accommodation, attractions and amenities in Cardiff City Centre and Cardiff Bay. Included as well are nearby places of particular interest to tourists. The level to which they are physically accessible and provide a warm, decent welcome to people who are disabled is assessed by the authors.

The content is geared mostly to people with mobility impairments and those who use crutches, frames and mobility scooters, as well as wheelchairs. It is appropriate for people who are accompanied as well as unaccompanied. Becky Barton, whose perspective is influenced by Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (M.E. or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), has included some of the psychological issues that she has found inherent with her condition. Where the authors are able to provide them, descriptions are given for people who have visual or aural impairments. We hope that we have provided sufficient information to be of help to people who have these conditions. Links to sources that provide services are included, and in places where the access is incomplete, the level of what is available is indicated.

The first section is arranged in alphabetical subject order with an outline of places, using bullet points for quick reference. The second section is organised by area and includes fuller descriptions of the places and their environs. This guide will also be useful for people with other mobility considerations, such as holidaymakers who have children in pushchairs.

This guide is intended to be evolutionary and expanding. Some categories have not been reviewed as yet, and others will be added, deleted, or changed as necessary. To the best of our research, the information is accurate at the time that it is submitted for publication. We welcome input regarding changes or discrepancies from readers through email or letters; this information will be incorporated in updated editions.

DIRECTORY.

Accommodation,

HOTELS.

The Hilton*****. (Greyfriars Road).

• Ramped entrance.

•  

• Lit steps with hand rails.

•  

• Lift to all floors.

•  

• Helpful staff.

•  

• High counters.

•  

• Accessible bar and restaurant.

•  

• Second bar not as accessible.

The Park Thistle Hotel. (Park Place).

• Low steps.

•  

• Gated lift at entrance.

•  

• Lifts to all floors.

•  

• Accessible bar and restaurant

•  

• Helpful staff.

•  

• High counter in bar.

•  

BED AND BREAKFAST.

GUEST HOUSES.

SELF CATERED.

Entertainment.

CINEMAS.

UGC. (Mary Ann Street).

• Automatic doors in entrance, fast revolving door in exit.

•  

• Low counters.

•  

• 2 lifts.

•  

• Wheelchair seating in theatres.

•  

UCI. (Atlantic Wharf).

Chapter Arts Centre. (Outside city centre area in Canton).

.· Ground entrance through parking lot.

· Wheelchair seating

· Somewhat accessible w.c., although the dimensions are strange for a person who is sitting down

THEATRES.

Chapter Arts Centre. See entry under cinemas.

The New Theatre. (Park Place).

• Street level access.

•  

• Narrow heavy doors.

•  

• Reserved seats for wheelchairs.

•  

• Stair lift to lower seats.

•  

• Helpful staff.

•  

For more information see the geographical area section.

The Sherman Theatre. Senghennydd Road.

MUSEUM.

The National Museum of Wales.

· Outside side ramp entrance

· Lifts to all floors and the coffee shop beneath the museum.

· Accessible w.c.s (?)

See below for additional information.

MUSIC VENUES.

The Millennium Stadium. See entry under sport.

The Millennium Arts Centre.

St. David’s Hall. (The Hayes).

· Ground floor access

· Small lifts

· Reserved spaces for wheelchairs in the theatre.

· The pub is self-serve and the counters are high, however on the days of our visits the pub staff were accommodating with offers to carry glasses and plates to our table.

PUBS/RESTAURANTS

Ha! Ha! – corner of Greyfriars Road and the Friary

· Fairly accessible entrance

· Ground floor tables

· Friendly wait staff

See page 8 for additional information.

Henry’s

· Entrance for people who are disabled/fire escape located at the side of the building. Will be opened by the staff when they are alerted that a person with a disability needs the door opened.

· Friendly, helpful staff.

Hudson’s

· Eat in or take away food

· Wide doors are usually open

· Wide aisle in front of the counter

· One-way system

See below for additional information.

SPORTS VENUES

The Millennium Stadium

The Welsh Institute of Sport (Between Cathedral Road and Park Place)

· Ramps to entrance and automatic doors

· Lifts have indented buttons for people who are visually impaired, and hand rails.

· There is an evacuation chair for use during emergencies by people who are mobility impaired.

UNIVERSITY AREAS

University of Cardiff School of Music (Corbett Road next to Aberdare Hall)

· Alternate ‘Student entrance’ can be used by people in wheelchairs.

· Tickets are available by phoning the Music Department or at the box office on the night.

· Website: www.cf.ac.uk/music

GEOGRAPHICAL AREA and ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

The National Museum of Wales.

The Museum is the largest museum in Wales and houses archaeological finds from around Wales, a large art collection and a natural history collection

The museum building is built in the same white brick Neo Classical Edwardian style as the nearby University buildings and the City Hall

Apart from the university buildings that have their own coffee shops for the students of Cardiff University, the museum is the only place that serves food and drinks. There is a range of hot and cold food and drinks served in the café underneath the museum, which is possible to reach by a lift through the doors directly opposite the main entrance

Opening times: Tuesday – Sunday and Bank Holiday Mondays from 10am to 5pm. Closed: 24^th, 25^th, 26^th and 1^st January.

There is an access guide to the museum on their website: www.nmgw.ac.uk

Gorsedd Gardens.

Gorsedd Gardens, situated just in front of the Museum, are smaller than Alexandria Gardens but are just as pleasant to walk through. As with Alexandria Gardens, Gorsedd Gardens are a smoother route into the city centre for wheel chair users than the path along Park Place.

Although the gardens are placed between three roads they have a tranquil atmosphere thanks to the trees that have been planted round their perimeter. The main focal point of the gardens is a circle of standing stones just opposite the museum which were placed there to commemorate the  National Eisteddfod, which was held in Cardiff.

Park Place.

This road runs adjacent to the Civic Centre and is one of the main roads leading from north and east Cardiff, centre and most of the students halls of residences into the city. Therefore it is a busy road to walk or drive down at most times during the day and evenings. There are four pedestrian crossings at the traffic lights along Park Place all of which are easy to use, the buttons are low enough to reach and they all have sunken curbs.

Neither of the paths is particularly well maintained along this road. The side closest to the Civic Centre is surfaced with tarmac, which is covered in potholes and are bumpy because of utility repairs. The opposite path is paved with paving slabs which are very uneven and broken in places. There are several side roads that have to be crossed on this side of the road, none of which have sunken curbs.

A lot of the buildings at the north end of the road are either used for university administration or are university departments.

Incognito.

This bar is frequented by young professionals from the near by solicitors and accountants offices and is very lively in the evening and on the weekend. Incognito offers moderately priced drinks and reasonably priced lunchtime and evening menus, which offer a fairly standard middle of the range bar/restaurant food.

 Both the front and rear entrances have steps that we don’t recommend a wheelchair user to attempt. If a wheelchair user manages to get into the bar the seating arrangements are cramped and difficult to reach, and half of the premises are down some steps. The bathrooms are located in the cellar of the building and are again only reachable by stairs. For those who do not use a wheelchair there is a rail on the entrance stairs and the doors are wide and often left open.

The Park Thistle Hotel.

The Park Thistle Hotel is one of the oldest hotel and restaurants in Cardiff. It has a bar and a restaurant downstairs and several conference/banquet rooms upstairs. The main entrance has several small steps but there is a customer lift beside it for mobility impaired guests. The lift is inside a set of wrought iron gates to the right of the main entrance and is operated by a member of staff. The reception staff are always happy to assist a wheelchair user to use this lift and they can be reached either by someone going into the reception area and informing them that the lift is needed or by the intercom which is situated next to the lift.

This hotel has a very genteel atmosphere as befits its age and reputation as one of the best hotels in Cardiff and is generally very accessible. The bar is small and intimate despite its high ceilings and rich decoration.

Henry’s.

Henry’s is a stylish cocktail bar that is decorated in an art deco style. It serves a wide variety of alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails, as well as beers, wines, soft drinks and warm drinks. Henry’s has reasonably priced lunch and dinner menus with a decent variety of dishes served. Both the cocktail and food menus are regularly updated.

The main entrance to Henry’s has 3 or 4 small steps just inside the doorway but there is a disabled entrance at the side of the building. The disabled entrance is also the fire escape and is behind the bins along a small rutted alley. You will have to get a friend to ask a barperson to open the door for you but the staff are always happy to help no matter how busy the bar is.

This bar is a personal favourite of the authors because of its relaxed atmosphere, good food and drinks, and friendly staff.

Creation.

As of 2006, Creation was relatively inaccessible because there were stairs at the entrance. Carolyn was unable to enter.

The New Theatre.

The New Theatre is a small red brick Victorian theatre on the corner of Park Place and Greyfriar’s Rd. A wide variety of plays and musicals are performed here, often starring well known actors, as well as modern dance performances and the BBC singer of the Year competition among other things. The New Theatre is the home of the Welsh National Opera who put on four operas every season, some well known operas with some less well known ones.

The entrance to the building is at street level through a pair of doors, which are slightly narrower and heavier than modern doors, though it is possible to take a wheel chair through them. There is room in the side aisles of the stalls for wheelchair patrons, the aisles can be reached by a portable lift that is operated by a member of staff.

North Road, Castle Street, Bute Park and Sophia Gardens.

Bute Park.

Bute Park has very smooth and gentle paths and a wide variety of marvellous scenery

There are many varied paths for all sorts of activities, including walking the dog, and cycling and there are different routes for different levels of fitness. Going down the west side of the park from Sophia Gardens there is a long road, which cars as well as pedestrians use, which runs the length of the park. There are wide open spaces, almost like fields for people to play or picnic on, it also has rugby and football pitches along the north end and formal gardens at the south end next to the castle. Bute Park is beautiful and easy to get around there aren’t any benches or places to sit until you get to the formal gardens by the castle and the paths are very long

Although Cardiff is a capital city, it is a very relaxed place to stay and doesn’t have the hustle and bustle of London or other capital cities, but the laid back atmosphere and friendliness of a town.

The Welsh Institute of Sport (between Cathedral Rd and Bute Park).

The Welsh Institute of Sport has ramps to its entrance which has automatic doors. Most of the facilities are on the first and second floors which can be reached by lifts whose buttons are indented for the sight impaired, and have hand rails of a good height on the inside. The emergency stairs has an evacuation chair for use by wheelchair users and other mobility impaired patrons during a fire or any other incident which leaves the lift unusable, the evacuation chair the only one that we have seen in Cardiff (so far) and it feels reassuring that disabled people do not have to wait in the stairwell to be rescued in a potentially life threatening situation. General accessibility is very good in and around the building as the building is quite new and the general atmosphere of the building is very modern, clean, professional and welcoming. Though where there are small/half walls between the courts, pool, etc and the audience are a bit too high to allow wheelchair users to watch the matches/games comfortably or at all in the case of smaller people in wheelchairs. The Welsh Institute of Sport is owned and managed by the Sports Council for Wales which ensues that the sports facilities are of the high standard needed to train top athletes. These facilities are open to anyone who wishes to become a member of the ‘Winners Scheme’, for an annual membership fee. The facilities are also open to non-members at a higher charge than those on the ‘Winners Scheme’. For more details on the facilities that are offered by the Welsh Institute of Sport you can pick up a leaflet at the reception or telephone: (029) 2030 0500, e-mail: wis@scw.co.uk, or check their website: http://www.sports-council-wales.co.uk/.

Opening hours:

8.00am – 9.30pm Monday – Friday

8.15am – 9.30pm Saturday – Sunday

Glamorgan County Cricket Ground (Sophia Gardens).

Accessible toilets

Ground around the pitch, a bar which has a ramp leading up to it and the other buildings is flat. Wheelchair users can probably sit on the concrete in front of the stands which is smooth and wide and the view is pretty good. It is possible for a small wheelchair user to see over the advertising hoardings and there are plenty of places to sit where there is no hoarding so you can see through the low fencing. The hospitality suites have three steps leading up to them from the back. The entrance to the cricket is on the ground floor with no steps or ramps and is very accessible and the desk at the reception/ticket sale booth is low enough for a wheelchair user to be seen and served comfortably.

Greyfriars Road and The Friary.

Varsity.

The Hilton Hotel.

The Hilton Hotel is a modern building built on the corner of Greyfriars Road and The Friary. The access to the building is excellent, there is a gentle ramp for wheelchair users to one side of the entrance, while the steps have handrails and are lit at night. The main door is a revolving door though there is a wide automatic door next to it which is operated by a clearly marked push button.

There are two places to eat and drink at the Hilton, the Razzi bar and restaurant on the ground floor and the Steam Bar, which is also on the ground floor on the side opposite the Razzi.

The Razzi Bar next to the restaurant and is the older of the two bars and is a quiet relaxing place to enjoy a drink with a mixture of low tables surrounded by armchairs and higher tables with normal dining chairs. The layout is quite wheelchair friendly as there is plenty of space between the tables and the tables are a nice height. The bar counter is quite high and is quite difficult for wheelchair users to reach, but the bar staff will usually come across to take orders. There are the usual range of drinks on offer at the bar and the bar staff are happy to mix any drink you ask for, as long as they have the ingredients and you can tell them how to make it!

The Steam bar is aimed at a younger cliental and is decorated in dark rich colours with a large screen showing music videos at one end of the room. The music is quite loud though no louder than usual in this kind of bar and the lighting is fairly subdued giving the bar an intimate atmosphere though may be a slight problem for the visually impaired. The bar is on two levels which both have plenty of seating; the higher level is reached by one large step which would be difficult to get a wheelchair up. There are two entrances to the Steam Bar; one is a direct entrance from The Friary at street level up a flight of steps. The other way to get to the Steam Bar is through the main entrance to the Hotel.

Designed in the American mode of physical access, it offers a marvellously smooth and manageable ramp to its exterior, accessible rooms upon request, and cots in cases where the beds might not be suitable because of height. The restaurant and bars are negotiable

The wheelchair accessible bathroom for non-residents at the hotel is on the first floor, so a patron of the bar or restaurant who is disabled is obliged to take the lift up on flight. The lift has information by voice, to inform/assist people who are visually impaired.

Glamorgan County Cricket Ground (Sophia Gardens).

The Country Cricket Ground has accessible toilets.

At the ground around the pitch, there is a bar that has a ramp leading up to it, and the other buildings are flat. Wheelchair users can probably sit on the concrete in front of the stands where it is smooth and wide and the view is pretty good. It is possible for a small wheelchair user to see over the advertising hoardings and there are plenty of places to sit where there is no hoarding so you can see through the low fencing. The hospitality suites have three steps leading up to them from the back, although we’re not sure about the front of the suites. The entrance to the cricket is on the ground floor with no steps or ramps and is very accessible and the desk at the reception/ticket sale booth is low enough for a wheelchair user to be seen and served comfortably.

Ha! Ha!

Ha! Ha! is a bar restaurant on the corner of Greyfriars Road and the Friary opposite the entrance to the Hilton Hotel’s Steam Bar. Its door is ground level, and there are tables that are of a good height for wheelchair users. The staff is courteous.

The Slug and Lettuce.

The Slug and lettuce is a bar and restaurant next door to Ha! Ha! with a dance floor and a large screen showing sport, mainly football unless there is a big rugby match on.

The food and cocktail menus include many items and the staff is courteous. The standard procedure is to order and pay in advance for food and drinks by going to an area where orders are received.

Bar Cuba.

Hudson’s.

Hudson’s is a small sandwich bar which serves a large variety of hot and cold baguettes, paninis and jacket potatoes and hot and cold drinks. You can eat in at the tables provided outside the bar and there are a couple of tables inside or you can get food to take away. It is a very wheelchair-friendly place with wide doors that are usually propped open. It has a wide aisle in front of the counter and a one way system through the bar so you don’t need to turn round or try to get past other people trying to get in.

T. K. Max.

Queen Street and Queen Street Arcade, St. David’s Arcade, Dominions Arcade and Capitol Arcade.

Queen Street.

Queen Street is the main shopping street in Cardiff City Centre containing most major banks and building societies and high street retailers.

Some of the cash points along Queen Street have been lowered to make them more accessible for wheel chair users since the enforcement of the 2004 Disability Discrimination Act, an act that will hopefully improve access for disabled people in Cardiff and the rest of Britain. The Pizza Hut at the west end of Queen Street is underground and has no customer lifts which make it impossible to get to for some people. This is also the case for ‘Pillars’, located a little further down Queen Street. There is ground level access to the American Express office but inside the counters are too high for someone in a wheelchair but the agents will come out from behind the counters to serve anyone who has difficulty with the counters. Laura Ashley’s is very nice it has low counters and a good customer lift which has indented writing on the buttons to the first floor. The entrance is at ground level and the doorway is wide and in the summer the doors are left open. Most of the clothing aisles are wide enough to get a wheelchair through. The shop has a wide range of goods to offer, including, adult and children’s clothes, furniture, bedding, paint and fabrics in well laid out and attractive displays. The bureau de changes in the Lun Poly travel agents has counters at a good height and has ground floor access and is open and inviting. The McDonalds cyber café has ground floor access and the tables are easy for manoeuvring a wheelchair around but the first floor does not have a lift to it.

The Starbucks in the middle of Queen Street is quite noisy but accessible, a wheelchair can pass through the aisle despite it being a small coffee shop. There is only one toilet in the shop but it is built for people with disabilities. The till counter is low enough for a wheelchair user but the counter where you pick up the coffee is very high, even a reasonably short person has to reach up for the hot drinks and above the head height of a person in a wheelchair.

Queen Street specialises in high street stores that are all mainly at street level, if they are not at street level the step is small or there is a ramp. Some have lifts in the shop, others, like Top shop, have service lifts behind the shop floor which the sales staff will take you to if you ask.

Queen Street has most major banks and building societies, chemists – including a large Boots store that sells a wide range of goods as well as having a dispensing pharmacy and photographic shop. There is also a smaller Boots at the east end of the Street with just a chemist and dispensary, and a Superdrug on the corner of the Friary. There are department stores, including Marks and Spencer’s and British Home Stores along Queen Street. There is a bigger Starbucks at the east end of Queen Street with a KFC next to it which although is not a cyber café is more accessible than McDonalds. There is a Sainsbury’s central on the corner at the very east end of the street.

There is a public toilet in a small side street just off the main street opposite Dixon’s and is large enough to accommodate a wheelchair. It costs 20p to use and has instructions in English, French and Braille.

Queen Street is a wide and pedestrians with trees planted along the centre of the street and park benches attractively arranged all the way down the length of the street. It is a very pleasant, clean street with a good number of litter bins along it. It has recently been repaved and is an easy smooth ride for a wheelchair, although, the slabs are polished and can be slippery in the rain and snow which is especially dangerous for people on crutches and those pushing wheel chairs. During school holidays there are small children’s fairground rides near the intersection with Park Place and outside the Capitol Arcade and a variety of street performers and small stalls at weekends and holidays.

On the whole this street is very accessible and we would encourage people who are visiting or staying in Cardiff to come and browse here.

The Capitol Arcade.

The Capitol Arcade is at the very east end of Queen Street and is on two levels. There is ground level access at both ends of the arcade through large glass doors that have touch pads to open the side doors and are left open in the summer. The floor of the arcade is smooth and very slippy so care has to be taken when walking through. The second level of the arcade can be reached by stairs, and escalator – which only goes up - or the lift in the Virgin Megastore, which has raised and lit buttons at a reasonable height. The ground floor of the Capitol Arcade has a Madison’s coffee shop, a gadget shop, jewellery stores, a make up shop and a Virgin Megastore. There are also some designer dress shops including Coast, Hudson and Hudson and Koki. On the first floor the Café Carib has reserved the front row of tables for wheelchair users and people with prams. There is a nail craft salon and Vidal Sassoon hairdressers on the first floor, an art gallery and the second floor of the Virgin Megastore and Madison’s. The Vidal Sassoon salon is very good for disabled clients with a clear floor area, accessible seating and the usual adjustable hairdresser’s seats and low till counters. The nail salon is also accessible and easy to use for disabled patrons.

Car parking.

On road parking is provided within a voucher system in the Civic centre and along Park Place. Vouchers can be purchased in many shops in the city and some of the University buildings. Each voucher costs £1 and only two vouchers maybe displayed on a car per day. Along Park Place and around the Museum and City Hall it is possible to park on the road for two hours per voucher. On the rest of the roads around the Civic Centre cars can be parked for five hours per voucher.

There are fourteen car parks around the city centre of varying sizes).

Public Transport

Taxis.

Although advertised as wheelchair-friendly, many taxis are unsafe because some taxi drivers do not attach the safety features of the taxis properly. As of late 2005-’06, training for drivers seems to be improving, however. A patron can call ahead to book a ‘wheelchair taxi’ from all the major companies.

Busses.

The seating in bus shelters are quite high and are slippery and could cause a problem for people using crutches or for short people. As of late 2005-’06, Cardiff’s busses are increasingly accessible, however a person is obliged to hang on tightly as the ones that we have taken do not have floor or side attachments to secure wheelchairs.

The aisles on busses are wide enough for a wheelchair to get to the spaces at the front of the bus created for wheelchairs, prams and pushchairs, Some bus stops in the city centre have high curbs to accommodate the new low rider busses which are quickly replacing the old fashioned busses with steps. However most bus stops still have normal height curbs which leave a small drop from the bus to the pavement; this could make it difficult for a person in a wheelchair to disembark from the bus by him/herself.

General comments for a smoother journey around the centre of Cardiff.