Their reminder comes after viral images on social media last year showed disabled parking spaces taken over by a nearby venue’s tables and chairs.
Known as the ‘purple pound’, the spending power of disabled customers and their families has been estimated at just under £250bn to the UK economy.
Head of marketing at AccessAble, an online accessibility guide, Carrie-Ann Lightley, said she has heard users report difficulties after pubs’ endeavoured to maximise their outside space.
Pubs should, nonetheless, be aware of how disabled people may need to use pavements when thinking about external seating, she clarified.
Obstructing these areas “makes it quite difficult for disabled people quite generally to be able to access the environment and get out and about in the street,” Lightley explained.
Mindful of all
Lightley's advice for licensees was to “be mindful of all customers,” despite the challenging time for the industry.
Common mistakes include a lack of access for passage, blue badge parking being blocked by external queuing points and signage being written in inaccessible formats such as block capitals, Lightley said.
Accessible signage is a simple change that can make a big difference for customers, campaigners have previously told The Morning Advertiser (MA).
For structural measures, operators can work with access consultants and communicate policies to customers through online access guides.
Accessibility training should also be included in staff induction training and there are specialist providers who can help, Lightley said.
Access to disabled toilets may also have been made more difficult for customers given social distancing rules and venues needing a place to store extra equipment such as PPE, she added.
Organisations had raised awareness of the importance of access to accessible facilities before the pandemic.
A pre-pandemic survey by Euan’s Guide found that almost four-in-10 respondents said pubs typically had poor access (38%), with not being able to get into or around a venue and a lack of a suitable accessible toilet cited as the most common issues.
Communication key
Some 86% said they have found disabled access information on a venue’s website to be misleading.
Reviewer engagement and outreach coordinator for Euan’s Guide, another access review site, Claire D'All said it was crucial for operators to check outdoor furniture was not obstructive.
Social distancing rules mean wheelchair users have benefited from more space to move around, she said.
However, when the distancing rules are scrapped, it is important for venues to still leave adequate space between tables for wheelchair users.
Another factor for operators to check was the level of hand sanitiser stations so that wheelchair users can reach.
Any disabled pubgoers will also be categorised as at a higher risk for coronavirus, meaning communicating Covid-19 health and safety messages is key to ensuring individuals feel assured in a venue.
Euan’s Guide has a feature for users to rate their level of Covid confidence in a venue and venues can also sign up to communicate their policies to potential pubgoers.
Incredibly proud
Despite the pandemic weighing a heavy burden on the trade, many operators have ensured disabled customers’ needs are not neglected.
The Bowgie Inn in Cornwall has become the first pub to install talking assisted toilets to help guests with sight loss.
“I’m so incredibly proud to be the first pub in the UK to have one of these toilets installed, we could even potentially be the first pub in the world,” said Sally Pickles, director of the Bowgie.
“We’re always striving to do as much as we can here at the Bowgie for all members of our community and this is something we’ve been working towards for a long time, so it feels amazing to finally have the RoomMate installed.”