Had two nights away this weekend in Stratford upon Avon, staying at the Premier Inn. Very quiet, clean an comfortable BUT rather dismayed by what they consider to be an accessible room. Ok, it was on the ground floor, but the bathroom had an over bath shower, not walk in. Impossible to climb into the bath! Opposite the tap end was a tiled area to sit on, but even if you could sit and swing legs over, you’d be too far from the taps! There was a grab rail at bath height, so nothing to hold on the open side, just the shower curtain. The bed was so low, even my able bodied husband found it awkward. I managed to get out of bed by having him sit on a chair to weight it, then hauling myself up using the back of it. I can’t believe they had input from disabled people. I pass this on because it annoys me that a big hotel chain like Premier can’t be more aware of people’s limitations. Plenty of disabled people travel alone, and good for them. I don’t know how they would get on in this situation. Anyway, we enjoyed the trip and meeting up with old friends. Just be warned if you use Premier Inns!
Have you emailed this to Premier Inn? I would and politely ask that they reply also. The more they are informed of these findings the more notice they might take.
Hi Lynda, I agree with Poppy. You should write/email Premier Inn and tell them everything you’ve said in the post (including the good stuff).
I think the architects of these places have no idea what ‘accessible’ really means! A few grab rails and they think their job is done!
Hope they respond (they should!) and you might even be offered a free night…you never know your luck!
All the best,
Pat xx
This is awful!!! I have stayed at a Premier Inn in an accesible room that had a small open plan wet room bathroom and a good bed (TBH I have always found PI beds really good). I didn’t use a wheelchair then (and still only 1 crutch) but I definitely couldn’t manage an over the bath shower.
Definitely complain to PI. I would actually post a factual review on Trip Advisor too.
We’ve had this problem with Premier Inn but their access statement does say:
Wet room facilities are also available in some of the accessible bedrooms in our newer, and recently refurbished, hotels. These wet rooms have a level access shower rather than a shallow bath. If the use of a wet room is particularly important to you, we strongly recommend that you check availability with the hotel at the time of booking."
"The beds provided in our accessible bedrooms should be 480mm in height. This is in accordance with the standards recommended in British Standard 8300:2009 ‘Design of buildings and their approaches to meet the needs of disabled people – Code of Practice’. This height is recommended as it corresponds to the seat height of the majority of wheelchairs and, therefore, facilitates transfer between the wheelchair and the bed.
However, we appreciate that some guests may prefer a higher bed and, if given sufficient advance notice of this at the time of booking, we can arrange to have the bed raised."
So I suppose that’s how they get away with it
Sorry it spoilt your stay,
Sarah x
I’d complain too. We have a shower over the bath and that works just fine WITH s bath-board & step. These are the things my OT fot me so they’re the kind of obvious things in those circumstances.
Definitely complain
Sonia x
Yes, I already emailed Premier when I got home, and also Trip Advisor. Thanks for the info, Dogtanian! Will def follow that up next time.
This is a subject that I can get very irate about!!!
Now I know the words disabled facilities can cover a whole host of things.
But I do a lot of research into hotels etc, who advertise themselves as being disabled friendly. This is because my needs may well be more than some.
I have found that in some cases, all the establishment has is a ramp and widened doorways…and that’s all!!! And as for having a shower over a bath …well…simply bonkers!!! Another thing that riles me is when they say a shower chair is available. I get excited thinking it is a safe chair, when in fact it is a small plastic ie slippery when wet, seat attached to a wall. I have fallen off these. Put a soapy bottom onto a wet seat and what’s going to happen when the user’s legs and feet aren’t strong? Yes, a fall of course!
The best advice I can pass on is to ring to ask specific questions when you are looking to book a hotel or whatever.
Aside from that, happy holidays!
Pollx