Pubs are for everyone – why being accessible is important
Posted: 15th February 2017
The British Beer and Pubs Association (BBPA) has published updated guidance for pubs to help licensees make their venue as welcoming as possible to those with access needs.
“Pubs are for everyone – why being accessible is important” is a follow-up to 2012’s “An open welcome – why being accessible is good for your pub”, and highlights various steps venues can take to ensure they are as accessible as possible, from access ramps at the door, to hearing loops on the bar and large print menus.
The guide also underlines the importance of staff training, so that pubs can meet the needs of disabled customers, and staff can safely operate any access-related equipment, alongside a suite of new case studies from Fuller’s and Enterprise Inns.
The BBPA has once again worked with VisitEngland, Tourism For All, DisabledGo.com and Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson DBE, who welcomes the guide as a “positive step in promoting access for all.”
The BBPA has also partnered with Changing Faces, a charity that helps people who have a disfigurement find a way to live the life they want, and have developed a case study helping staff engage with customers who have a distinctive appearance.
Baroness Tanni Grey Thompson DBE comments:
“Having just witnessed yet another successful Paralympics, there is no better time to champion accessibility, and no better place to do so then in the home of hospitality – the Great British pub.
“Accessibility is not simply about physical access to the pub, but rather it is about creating the best experience for all who visit and encouraging visitors to return.
“This guidance is a positive step in promoting access for all. Let’s embrace the legacy of the Paralympics and ensure that equality and accessibility remain key themes for the future.”