Parking may be located on-site or off-site, in a car park or on the street, but should be within 50 metres of a customer entrance.

Designated accessible bays / areas may or may not require a Blue Badge to be displayed (consider international visitors arriving by car who may have a different badge).

The route from the parking to the entrance should be step-free providing level access suitable for a wheelchair user. The route may include access by ramp or lift.
The route should have a firm and reasonably smooth surface to accommodate wheelchair users and others with accessibility requirements i.e. no cobbles, bare earth, sand or unbonded gravel.

Step-free entrances provide level access suitable for a wheelchair user. There should not be any raised thresholds. The entrance may include access by ramp (temporary or permanent) or lift.

If your step-free entrance is not your main entrance, you should only select this feature if the alternative entrance is welcoming to customers. Other entrances, such as for staff or through kitchens, should not be included.

Can your customers enter and move around all or most key areas of your business without encountering any steps or stairs that could pose a barrier to wheelchair users?

A minimum requirement is that guests can access an accessible toilet and at least one food and beverage outlet, where available.

To achieve this the layout and infrastructure of your establishment may include features such as ramps or lifts, as well as wide doorways and corridors.

Other key areas may include:

• Reception area;
• Other food & beverage areas;
• Accessible accommodation;
• Meeting rooms;
• Leisure facilities;
• Galleries and museum spaces;
• Adapted experiences.

A lift may be a standard passenger lift, wheelchair stairlift or a platform lift designed for disabled people.

An evacuation chair should also be available in case of emergency.

This should be step-free, with no raised thresholds.

This should be away from areas of loud noise, such as kitchen entrances and audio speakers.

You may offer table service as standard, or if you normally provide self-service you may offer the option for disabled customers to request table service if required..

Dietary requirements may include:

• food allergies or intolerances;
• religious dietary restrictions;
• specific dietary choices;
• food available with softer textures;
• food items separated on the plate.

An accessible toilet should have as a minimum:

• step-free access;
• a manoeuvring space of 1500mm x 1500mm;
• an outward opening door, where possible, with a minimum width of 750mm (800mm Scotland and Republic of Ireland);
• a transfer space on at least one side of the toilet with a drop-down grab rail on the transfer side;
• horizontal grab rail positioned on the wall adjacent to the toilet;
• an emergency assistance alarm within reach from the floor.

Accessible toilets should never be used as a storage space and the transfer space next to the toilet should be kept clear.

In order to tick this box, a detailed description of this room and its facilities must be provided on/via your business website, along with good quality illustrative images and / or videos.

These consider the specific needs of disabled customers to facilitate their swift and safe evacuation in an emergency.

• A Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan (PEEP) applies to accommodation providers
• A General Emergency Evacuation Plan (GEEP) applies to all other tourism businesses.

This could be:

• A map which helps customers understand where key accessibility features are, possibly including distances, e.g. Accessible toilets; step-free routes; sensory triggers.
• Afloorplan of a venue which helps customers understand the layout of a building showing key accessibility features e.g. Accessible toilets; step-free routes.

A room plan of a designated accessible unit / bedroom / bathroom showing e.g. position of furniture; circulation space; door widths.

This is a designated space e.g. a play area or garden which is fully enclosed for guest safety e.g. with fencing, walls or hedges.

This training should ideally be provided for all staff on induction and refreshed (for at least those in customer-facing positions) at regular intervals.

A designated quiet space or room is designed to provide a calm and tranquil environment for those who may require this facility e.g. autistic visitors.

An assistive listening / hearing enhancement system amplifies sound and transmits it wirelessly to a hearing aid, cochlear implant or loop listener that’s switched to the hearing loop setting.
Signage should be positioned where loops are effective.

An emergency alarm with flashing lights alerts deaf guests to a fire or other emergency scenario

As a minimum this should include water bowls and a toilet area within the grounds of the venue or nearby.

Tactile signage can be read by touch and includes raised print / symbols and/or Braille. Tactile signage should be provided for safety signage and toilet door signage as a minimum.

This may be provided through:

• Information you are providing on your own website, which may include an Accessibility Guide
• An independently verified Accessibility Guide e.g. an AccessAble Detailed Access Guide