Access Statement For Brecon Castle Hotel, Brecon
Introduction
Brecon Castle Hotel is located in the historic heart of Brecon. The hotel is independent and has a long reputation for the warmth of our hospitality and personal attention. We want your visit to be an experience you recall with pleasure and we look forward to welcoming you to Brecon.
Pre-Arrival
• For assistance prior to arrival please contact reservations on 01874 624 611
• The Castle Hotel in Brecon’s town centre, is ¾ mile from the A40 / A470 Junction of the town by-pass and only 35 minutes drive from the train stations at Abergavenny or Merthyr Tydfil which provides direct connections with London and Birmingham
• Taxis are readily available outside the train stations
• The town bus station is an easy 5 minutes walk from the hotel
• The centre of town is an easy 2-minutes walk from our door step
• We have a list of local equipment hirers that is available on request
Arrival & Car Parking Facilities
• The hotel has limited parking facilities for residents which includes 2 disabled parking spaces situated either side of the hotel’s front door
• Residents can pre-arrange to have a parking space directly outside the front of the hotel to be reserved for them ~ contact reservations
• The car park is level and has a tarmac surface
• There are no steps between the car-park and the front of the hotel
• There is a bell with a disabled-badge located at waist height on the right-hand side of the front door which can be used to alert Reception should assistance with access to the hotel be required.
• The front doors of the hotel can be opened wide to make entry and exit easy for infirm or disabled guests
• Assistance is provided wherever possible with parking and luggage
Main Entrance & Reception
• Once through the front doors the reception area is level with access to the bar, restaurant and the lift to the guest floors
• The reception desk is located to your right as you enter the front hall
• There are a number of seating areas in the front hall
• The reception desk is 110cm high but there is also an additional desk where seated registration can take place in the hall area
• On check in staff will brief you on our evacuation policy
• The registration card can be enlarged if required
• We can provide a magnifying glass and easy to hold pens if required
• The main restaurant is located along the short corridor beside the Reception
• The bar is located to the left (as you face it) of the reception desk
• There are no steps to the restaurant or bar
• The floor in the front hall is tiled and the floor of the restaurant and bar is wooden
• Familiarization tours can be provided if required
Public Areas - General (Internal)
• There is an internal hotel phone on the reception desk that guests can use
• The main hotel is three floors high and access to the 28 bedrooms in this section is via a central staircase only.
• There are refuge areas located on each floor and they are indicated by the fire exit signs
Public Areas - WC
• There are separate modern toilet facilities provided for ladies and gents and a separate disabled toilet with baby-changing facilities
• Access to the toilets is level-entry along the corridor from the front hall along a tiled floor
• The floor surface in the toilets is non-slip and tiled
• There is no color contrast with critical surfaces and the sanitary ware is white
Restaurant / Dining Room, Bar & Lounges, Take Away & Cafe
• The location of the toilets can be seen in the public areas WC section
• There is a bar situated on the ground floor to the left (as you look at it) of the reception desk
• It has a level entry and is open plan with even wooden flooring
• The bar counter is to the left upon entry
• Table service is offered throughout
• The tables are all of equal height and there is an option of easy access chairs or banquette seating
• Lighting is a combination of natural and electric light
• In the evening small candles add to the intimate ambiance
• The restaurant is also located on the ground floor along the short corridor from the entry hall
• It has a level entry and is open plan with an even tiled floor
• There is a host desk on entry to the restaurant and staff will assist you to your table
• The restaurant provides table service throughout with assistance being available with the self service breakfast
• Lighting is a combination of natural and electric light with candles added in the evening
• Lighting levels can be increased if required
• We cater for all special dietary needs
• Staff will provide full explanations of every dish when ordering and will explain the dish when presented at the table
Laundry
• Laundry service and dry cleaning is offered
• Bags are available in the bedrooms and are collected from the bedrooms by 09.00 and returned by 17.00 (expect Sundays when there is no laundry or dry cleaning service)
Shop
• There is a small cabinet at the entrance to the bar which contains items for sale
• Items can be purchased through the reception desk
Treatment room/s
• None available
Leisure Facilities
• None available
Outdoor Facilities
• None available
Conference & Meeting Rooms, Banqueting, Clubs, Entertainment
• We have 6 main conference rooms that are all accessed via level-entry from the front hall
• Two of these rooms can be accessed via double doors
• Lighting is even but can be varied using dimmer switches
• Please notify conference organizers in advance if you will require any additional services e.g. special seating arrangements, staging, interpreters, we do try to accommodate everyone’s needs wherever possible
Bedrooms
• We have 29 rooms that are accessed via the central staircase. We have 2 bedrooms located on the ground floor in a wing of the main hotel which can be accessed without having to negotiate any steps. One of these bedrooms has lifting facilities located next to the toilet and bath. We have a further 12 bedrooms located in a separate annex building, 6 of which are located on the ground floor and 6 on the first floor and negotiated by a circular staircase. Access to the 6 ground floor rooms is via a small step up followed by a turn to the right or left.
• We have a telephone with large dial numbers, an audio alarm that is activated by the fire alarm and smoke alarms in every bedroom
• The bedrooms and bathrooms are generously proportioned but some provide more turning and transfer space than others
• We try as far as possible to allocate bedrooms based upon individual guest needs
• Emergency procedures are posted on the door to each bedroom and are explained upon check in for any disabled guests
• Every bedroom has television and radio with remote control
• Flooring in all bedrooms is carpeting
• Bedroom lighting can be switched on at the entrance to the room and also within the room
• There are bedside lights
• There is a direct dial telephone in every bedroom
• We provide non-allergenic bedding as required
• All rooms are non-smoking in compliance with current legislation
• Furniture within the rooms can be moved or even removed
• Dogs are permitted in certain rooms and food and water can be provided
• Bedroom information folders can be provided in large print or magnifying glasses can be provided
Bathroom, Shower-room & WC [En suite or Shared]
• All bathrooms are fitted with non-slip floor tiles or wooden floors
• All baths have non-slip strips applied
• We provide bath steps and seats
• Bathroom lighting is very bright and all sanitary ware is white
Self-Catering Kitchen
• None available
Caravans, Holiday Homes & Twin Units
• None available
Touring Facilities (Holiday Parks)
• None available
Boats - Narrow Boat, Cruiser & Hotel Boat
• The hotel owns a 3 berth canal boat on the nearby Brecon canal
Attractions (Displays, exhibits, rides etc.)
• None available
Grounds and Gardens
• There is a South-facing dual-level Garden located in front of the hotel (on the other side of the hotel from the car park)
• There is level-access to the gardens available either from the bar area or via a large metal gate on the side of the hotel. Access leads onto a level brick path suitable for wheelchairs that leads around the hotel to the gardens and around to the lawn below. There are further gardens located below the castle and next to the river. Access to these gardens is via a very steep wooden ramp and a number of steep steps that may be unsuitable for infirm or wheelchair bound guests
• Staff assistance can be provided
• There are a number of benches and seats provided
Additional Information
• If you require any assistance during your stay please contact reception
• The Duty Manager can be contacted via reception
• We have a general evacuation procedure with specific procedures for infirm or disabled guests and this will be explained upon check in
• All front of house staff have regular training which includes disability awareness training
• All housekeeping staff have been trained and are aware of
procedures to aid privacy in bedrooms
• There is excellent coverage for mobile phones throughout the hotel
• Wi-Fi is available throughout the hotel
• We do have a number of rooms suitable for families or carers
• There is background music in the bar area
• A list of equipment hire companies is available on request
• A list of carers in the local area are available on request
Contact Information
• Address: Brecon Castle Hotel, Castle Square, Brecon, LD3 9DB
• Telephone: 01874 624 611
• Fax: 01874 623 737
• Email: hotel@breconcastle.co.uk
• Website: www.breconcastle.co.uk
• Hours of operation: 24 hours, 365 days per year
• Emergency number: Reception Dial 0
Future Plans
• We are constantly refurbishing and up grading our public rooms and bedrooms
• We are planning to install walk-in showers in the two ground floor bedrooms in January 2009
We welcome your feedback to help us continuously improve if you have any comments please phone 01874 624 611 or email hotel@breconcastle.co.uk
