Access Statement for The Northumbria

Introduction
We aim to meet the needs and exceed the expectations of all visitors to our bed-and-breakfast guest accommodation at the seaside here in Whitley Bay. We are therefore committed to providing good customer services and maximum access for all our guests. The following is a statement of our provision and we are happy to answer any other specific questions you may have which are not covered here.

Pre-Arrival
You can obtain advance information about The Northumbria from our website at www.northumbria-hotel.co.uk. The website also has the facility to contact us by email.

Information about our services and breakfast menus can be provided in advance on request or on the premises by prior arrangement.

You can contact us by telephone or fax 0191 2525265 or email northumbria.hotel@btconnect.com

Whitley Bay is easily accessible by car, train or bus. There are frequent bus services from Newcastle, the local Tyne & Wear Metro train runs almost every ten minutes to and from Newcastle (and onwards to Gateshead, South Shields, Sunderland and the airport) and we keep a supply of timetables. The metro station is just around the corner, a couple of minutes on foot. The local taxi firm, Eastcoast Taxis, is also just around the corner and will collect guests from the door. The coast is easily reached by car from Newcastle on the coast road the 1058 which links to the A19 and Tyne Tunnel and from the A19 to the A1 North and South.

Arrival and Car Parking Facilities
We are located at the sea front in Whitley Bay just off the Promenade in Victoria Avenue. The guest entrance is South-facing and overlooks the Rockliffe Bowling Club and Victoria Park Tennis Courts. Victoria Avenue itself is a pedestrian street without vehicular access and care must therefore be taken when accessing the property using satellite navigator equipment as the avenue does not actually appear on the maps. It is situated to the South of Esplanade, which runs parallel.

There is a car park with a tarmac surface and 6 marked parking bays for off-road parking. There is also ample on-road parking. The bay nearest the entrance can be reserved in advance if required.

Access to the main entrance is along a section of wooden decking. There are two steps up to the decking, the first is 17 cm and the second is 11 cm high. Entry to the property is possible at that point through an emergency exit door to the dining room, where there is a third step 19 cm high.

To enter at the main entrance, there is a further step of 16 cm to the front door, which is 68 cm wide.
A handrail and a temporary ramp are planned.

We are happy to assist guests with luggage.

Main Entrance and Reception
On entry, there is a small hallway x by x. From the hallway one door leads to a training room, another to the bar (this is kept locked) and a third to the reception area. A chair is provided in the hallway as well as a range of leaflets and brochures about regional attractions. A lamp is sited here which switches on and off automatically to provide light in the hours of darkness. The registration process takes place in the reception area, where there is a desk and seating. The floors are carpeted and level and it is well-lit.

Public Areas - General
Access to the bar and dining room is on the same level as the reception area at ground floor level. This area is carpeted throughout.

Public Areas - WC
The premises comprise two Victorian terraced houses and due to the layout and structure, the toilets and shower rooms are located on a half-landing up a flight of steps of 14 steps from the ground floor or down 6 steps from the bedrooms. Rooms 1 and 3 share a shower room on one half-landing and Rooms 2 and 4 share another on the opposite side. The showers have a step of …, the washbasin height is … and the toilet height is …. There are no grab rails, as there is not the space due to the siting of the window.

Dining Room
Breakfast is served in the dining room on the ground floor. The room is bright, spacious and airy and looks out over the sea. The furniture is flexible and can be re-arranged to accommodate all needs. Tables have underspace of xxx cm by xxx cm and height of xxx cm. (One central leg)
Chairs are upholstered and have no armrests. Chairs with armrests are available on request. Menus are provided in large print. We do not play background music in any area of the premises.

Laundry
We have a coin-operated laundry facility which is available on request.

Bar
We have a licensed lounge bar for residents only. There is comfortable seating on a sofa and armchairs as well as bar stools. There is a 36” wide screen television in the bar and a dart board.

Training Rooms
We have 2 training rooms on the ground floor each of which can accommodate up to 12 people. The dining room is also used as a multi-purpose room and can be arranged to provide conferencing facilities for up to 30 people.

Shops
There are plenty of shops in Whitley Bay and a corner shop just a couple of minutes away. We provide soap and towels, but please ask us for anything you may have forgotten to bring (i.e. toothpaste etc.)
Just around the corner is the mobility shop xxxxx

Outdoor Facilities
We have a large rear garden which attracts the afternoon sun. There is seating in the garden and it is accessed by 3 steps down from the entrance door from the main reception area. We do not permit smoking anywhere in the premises but guests can smoke in the garden if they wish.

Bedrooms

Bedroom 1
A standard single room with washbasin very close to the shared shower room which is accessed from the bedroom by a flight down of 6 stairs. The bed is 48cm high but can be raised with blocks on request. There is a table with television, chair, bedside table and lamp and a fitted short-pile carpet on the floor.

Bedroom 2
A standard single room with washbasin very close to the shared shower room which is accessed from the bedroom by a flight down of 6 stairs. The bed is 48cm high but can be raised with blocks on request. There is a table with television, chair, bedside table and lamp and a fitted short-pile carpet on the floor.

Bedroom 3
A standard double bedroom with washbasin which can be used a single. The bed is xx cm high and there are two bedside cabinets with lamps. There is also a dressing table with television and a fitted short-pile carpet on the floor.

Bedroom 4
A standard twin room with washbasin. The beds are 54cm high and there is a bedside cabinet with lamp. There is also a table with television and a chair and a fitted short-pile carpet on the floor. This room is very light and airy with a sea view.

Bedroom 5
This is a double room with ensuite facilities. The bed is 50 cm high and there is a bedside table with lamp. There is also a wardrobe, a chest of drawers and a chair and a fitted short pile carpet on the floor.
The private shower room door width is 68 cm. The curved shower cubicle has a step of 24 cm.
The pedestal washbasin has a curved front and is 80cm high. The toilet is 39 cm high and there is no grab rail beside the toilet as yet. This is planned.

Bedroom 6
This is a small single room with ensuite facilities. The bed is 50 cm. high and there is a dressing table, chair and chest of drawers and fitted short pile-carpet on floor. The private shower room has a folding door, width 68 cm. The curved shower cubicle has a step of 24 cm. The pedestal wash basin has a curved front and is 80cm high. The toilet is a saniflow unit and must not be used to dispose of any other items than those for which it is intended. It is 39cm high and there is no grab rail beside the toilet as yet. This is planned.

Bedroom 7
This is a family room which can be used as a twin or a double. The single bed is 50cm high and the double bed is also 50 cm high. There are two bedside cabinets with lamps and a chest of drawers with television. There is a fitted short-pile carpet on the floor. The private shower room door width is 68 cm. The curved shower cubicle has a step of 24 cm. The pedestal washbasin has a curved front and is 80cm high. The toilet is 39 cm high and there is no grab rail beside the toilet as yet. This is planned.

Garden
We have a small garden to the rear of the hotel (originally the main entrance to the property). It is enclosed and is laid to lawn with surrounding borders. There is a slightly raised stone area with a seat in one corner. The surface is somewhat uneven. The garden is accessed by two/three steps down from the door. Guests are welcome to use the garden.

Additional Information
Assistance dogs are welcomed by arrangement. We are able to use the dining room door in the need of evacuation. An alarm system will alert guests in the case of an emergency. The bell is a continuous sounding loud warning tone. Please let us know of any special requirements at the time of booking. In this case we will alert guests personally if evacuation is needed. We are a no smoking building, though smoking is tolerated in the garden. We can store small items of food/medication in our fridge on request.

Future Plans
Whilst we are committed to providing maximum access for all our guests, we are constrained by the limitations of the Victorian property as to the extent of this provision. The following measures are planned for the future, when the general reburbishment is completed:

• Contrasting strips on decking to indicate steps
• Handrail and ramp at entrance
• Replacement of bar furniture to provide seating that is 50cm and has armrests
• Ground floor toilet facility
• Second handrail to stairs
• Additional method to guard the drop from the fifth step
• Grab rails in ensuite shower rooms
• Removal of threshold from emergency exit in dining room

Contact Information

Address:
The Northumbria
51-52 Victoria Avenue
Whitley Bay
NE26 2BA

Telephone and Fax: 0191 2525265

Email: northumbria.hotel@btconnect.com

Website: www.northumbria-hotel.co.uk