West Country
True Lovers Knot
Tarrant Keyneston, Dorset
It's a fact of life that very few pubs make any concessions for blind or partially sighted- customers. But this is no longer the case at the True Lovers Knot, where tenants Antony and Barbara Marshall have made people with visual difficulties well and truly welcome. They have introduced large-print menus for partially-sighted customers, Braille menus for those who are blind and an audio menu for those who cannot read Braille.
Translating ideas into reality
Antony says the idea came after seeing a lady read out the entire menu to her blind husband - no small task as there are normally about 30 dishes plus numerous vegetable and side-order options to choose from.
Antony says: "When they had finished their meal, I asked if she had to do that everywhere they went and she said 'Yes, even at events run by the Royal National Institute for the Blind'."
Barbara and Antony lost no time and, with the help of a nearby RNIB branch, had Braille menus as well as large print menus made for customers at the Hall & Woodhouse outlet.
"Very shortly afterwards, a couple came in and the woman was blind. She was bowled over," Antony says.
This moved the Marshalls to cater for blind people who couldn't read Braille and resulted in creating an audio menu, recorded on a normal CD player. Braille signs have also been attached to the doors to the ladies' and gents' toilets.
Antony says word has spread among the blind community and trade has increased.
"We may get five or six people a week who wouldn't have come here otherwise. That doesn't matter to me - what's important is that they can enjoy themselves."
Access for all
Customers with other disabilities are catered for equally. The True Lovers Knot reopened in December 2005 after a £500,000-plus, three-month refurbishment that included improving access with wider doors and ramped approaches for wheelchair users or those with walking difficulties.
Antony says: "It's all about being inclusive. After all, why shouldn't everyone be able to use the pub?"
