Access Statement

Large print hard copy access statement is available on request.

Introduction

We aim to cater for the needs of all visitors to our guest house.

We have 8 guest bedrooms – two on the ground floor, three on the first floor and three on the second floor. All bedrooms are en-suite.

The following statement is a summary of our provision. If you have any specific questions please feel free to call us and we will endeavour to help.

Pre-arrival

Beecroft Lodge is located in St Andrews Road about 138 metres (150 yards) on the right hand side. Paignton railway station and the Bus Station are both approximately 850 metres (0.5 mile) away, about a 10 minute walk (part of which is steep). Our accommodation is not served by buses. Taxis are usually available at the station. There are several local taxi companies, some of which have accessible vehicles. We can supply you with telephone numbers so that you can book in advance.

We have a basic website www.beecroftlodge.co.uk with pictures and more information about the guest house. You can contact us by telephone, email or post, please see the contact section.

Our menus, tariffs and the Access Statement can be provided in large print if required. We regret that we do not have facilities to prepare documents in Braille. If you have special diet needs, please advise us in advance.

There are a number of local companies that provide hire of aids of various typed. If you need to hire any items please contact us and we will provide you with telephone numbers.

Arrival and Car Parking

Please let us know when you expect to arrive so that we can be here to greet you. We offer assistance with luggage.

Travelling by car – the turn into our drive from the road is steep and best approached at an angle. The front concrete car park is flat with no marked parking bays but there is room for 3-4 cars. There are two shallow steps into the accommodation. There are no parking restrictions on St Andrews Road to the front of the property

We do have a rear car park surfaced with tarmac which is on the level with Hill Park Terrace. The access to the building is via steps described in the Garden section. As the entrance is via the bar access times are restricted.

The front door is lit at night and the front car park is lit by streetlights. The rear car park is lit by streetlights and is covered by a security light.

Paignton town centre is approximately 900 metres (½ mile) away, a 3 minute drive or about a 12 minute walk, part of which is steep.

The Main Entrance and Hallway

There are 2 steps up from the car park to the glazed front door which is always closed. The first step is 8cm high x 46 cm deep and the second step 10cm high x 89 cm deep. The doorbell is located on the left hand side of the front door at a height of 150 cm.

The front door is 82cm. The threshold into the lobby is 5cm x15 cm. The lobby is 82 x 122 cm floored with barrier matting. The inner lobby door is 82 cm and leads to the hallway. The hall is approximately 1.47 x 4.07 metres to the archway that leads to the ground floor double room.

Public areas – General

The flooring throughout the property is short pile carpet except in the WC which has a vinyl floor. The lounge, hall and stairs are all carpeted with the same heavily patterned carpet. The bedrooms are plain. The lounge and bar areas have the same carpet which contrasts with the hall and lounge. Each area is distinct.

There is a desk and large sideboard in the hall.

From the hall there is level access to the lounge, single bedroom and one double bedroom, guest lounge and thence to the bar and dining room. The single ground floor room leads directly from the hall and the double ground floor room is located through the archway (87cm wide) from the hall.

There are 12 stairs to a rectangular half landing and a further 5 stairs to the first floor. There is a dado rail on the left of the stairwell. The stairs to the second floor lead off the landing. There are 9 stairs to another rectangular half landing and a further 6 stairs to the second floor. There is no dado rail on the second flight. The stairs are all 19 cm high, 25cm deep and 75 cm wide.

The first floor landing is 2.50 m wide and gives access to the family room and double room. The twin room is through an archway (87cm wide). The second floor landing has four doors off – three bedrooms and a permanently locked fire door to a store-room.

Public areas – W.C.

The unisex WC is located on the ground floor at the end of the bar on the left between the bar and the dining room. The access corridor is74 cm wide. The outward opening door is 68 cm wide. The floor slopes towards the door and has vinyl tiles. The sanitary ware is white. The toilet seat height is 41 cm.

Dining Room

Breakfast is served in the dining room on the ground floor. There is a slight downward slope to the dining room from the bar. The door to the Dining room is 82cm wide.

The table arrangement is flexible. There are 8 tables of 74 cm square with 2 armless dining chairs (seat height 45 cm). The under table height of all the tables is 66cm and the top height is 74 cm (legs on each corner).

Menus can be provided in large print but we do not have the facilities to provide Braille copies. We will discuss the menu with you. We are able to cater for varying dietary needs by prior arrangement.

There is good natural light during the day or on dark mornings light is provided by overhead lights.

We play background music in the guest lounge.

Bar

The bar leads off the Lounge through a pair of glazed sliding door (150 cm wide gap). It is lit by natural light during the day and a combination of down lighters at the bar and a central overhead light at night. The seating at the bar is by 2-3 armless bar stools (seat height 69cm).

The deck and garden are reached via a door from the bar – see the details under ‘Garden’.

Guest Lounge

The door from the hall (77 cm) has a door closer fitted.
The seating is two 2-seater sofas with one matching armchair.
There is a large flatscreen freeview DVD TV on a glass stand.
Games are found in the sideboard.

This room has good natural light during the day and is lit at night by a central overhead dimmable chandelier, dimmable downlighters and one dimmable uplighter at night. Additional lighting can be provided.

Bedrooms

We have 8 en-suite bedrooms on the ground, first and second floors. All en-suite rooms have an electric shower, washbasin and toilet. The twin room on the first floor has a bath with electric shower above.

Each room has storage space of a minimum of a wardrobe, chest of drawers/dressing table and a bedside cabinet/table. Carpets have short pile contrasting with the hall and stair carpet. In each room there is at least one upright armless chair. In most rooms there is more than one chair and in some rooms there are armchairs.

We have a pass key to all rooms so if you are in difficulties we can get in to the room.
There is central heating throughout the property. The temperature of each guest bedroom is controlled by thermostatic controls on the radiators and electric heaters are available if required.

All bedrooms have remote control televisions with Freeview. In each room there is a tray with beverage making facilities (some kettles are corded), hairdryer, alarm clock radio and free standing fan.

The majority of the beds are divans with an average height of approximately 57cm. Our beds are made with duvets (synthetic). All our pillows are synthetic. Beds can be made with sheets and blankets if you prefer. The sheets are cotton and the duvet covers and pillowcases are polycotton.

Most bedrooms have good natural daylight. All have central overhead lights and bedside lights all with low energy bulbs.
Bedrooms (cont)

Ground Floor

The access route, room size and layout mean that these rooms are not suitable for those who use a wheelchair at all times but they are suitable for people with impaired mobility.

Room 1 – Single: Room size approximately 3m x 3m of irregular shape. Main door is 76 cm. Access to both sides of the single divan bed. Seating – single high back chair seat height 46cm. Ensuite: door 66 cm opening outwards. Shower cubicle 80 x 75 cm, step in of 15cm, pivot door. There is a grab-rail in the cubicle 107 cm high. Washbasin – 79cm high with lever taps. Toilet seat height – 41 cm. Flooring – carpet.

Room 2 – Double: Room size approximately 3.3m x 3.37m. Main door is 76 cm. Bed standard double (135 x 190 cm) divan accessible from both sides. Seating – armchair seat height 44 cm, upright chair seat height 40 cm. Ensuite: door 74cm outward opening. Shower tray 100×75 cm with sliding doors- grab rail fitted in shower at 109 cm high. Step in 15 cm. The Washbasin – 79cm high with lever taps. Toilet seat height – 43 cm. Flooring – carpet

First Floor

Room 3 –Twin. Room approximately 3.3m x 3.37m of irregular shape. Main door is 76 cm Beds: Two standard single divan beds (90 x 190cm). One has one side to the wall and the other is accessible from both sides – 50 cm gap between and 100cm to the wall. Seating – one high backed upright chair seat height 46 cm. Ensuite: This is down 4 stairs (19cm high x 23cm deep and 79 cm) with a handrail on the right at 94cm. Bath (side height 53cm) folding bath screen and electric shower over. Washbasin -79 cm, Toilet seat height – 41 cm. Flooring – carpet

Room 5 – Family: Room approximately 5.2 m X 4.7m (at the narrowest). Main door is 77cm. Beds – two single divans (each with one side to the wall), wooden framed double bed (137 cm x 190 cm) Seating: one high backed chair seat height 45 cm. En-suite: door 67 cm opening outwards. Shower cubicle 75 x 75 cm; step in of 32cm; bi-fold door. Washbasin – 79cm. Toilet seat – 45 cm. Flooring – slip resistant vinyl.

Room 6 – Double: Room approximately 3m x 3.5 m of irregular shape. Main door is 77cm. Standard double (135 x 190 cm) divan bed accessible from both sides. Seating: one straight backed chair, seat height 46 cm. En-suite: door 67 cm opening inwards. Shower cubicle 75 x 75 cm; step in of 25cm; pivot door. Washbasin – 79cm. Toilet seat 42 cm. Flooring – vinyl.

Second Floor

Room 7 – Double/twin: Room approximately 4m90 x 2m90. The ceiling in this room is part sloping. Main door is 69cm. Beds: Two standard divan beds which can be either configured as twin beds or zipped together to form a Superking 180cm x190cm accessible from both sides whichever way the beds are arranged. En-suite: Door 67 cm opening outwards. Shower tray 110×75 cm sliding door. Step in to shower 15cm. Washbasin – 79 cm. Toilet seat – 41 cm. Flooring – carpet.

Room 8 – Double: Main part of room approximately 2.85 m x 4.52m. The ceiling in this room is part sloping. Door and entrance to room – 72cm then a narrow entry 83cm wide at the narrowest. There is access to both sides of the 135 x 190 cm standard double divan bed. Seating – two different straight backed chairs both with a seat height of 46 cm. The ensuite door (74cm) is outward opening. Shower tray 70 x70 cm with a bi-fold door. Washbasin – 79cm. Toilet seat – 42 cm. Flooring- slip resistant vinyl.

Room 9 – Double/twin: Main part of room approximately 5.2 m x3.8m narrowing to 2.7m. The ceiling in this room is part sloping. Door 70cm, and entrance to room –75cm wide. Beds: Two standard divan beds which can be either configured as twin beds or zipped together to form a Superking 180cm x190cm. When as a twin room one beds has its side against a wall. When configured as a Superking the gap each side is approximately 45cm. Seating: two tub chairs, seat height 44cm. En-suite: Door (66 cm) outward opening. Shower tray 75 x75 cm with a pivot door. Step in to shower 30cm. Washbasin – 80 cm. Toilet seat – 41 cm. Flooring – slip resistant vinyl there is a slight slope to the floor.

The following are not available on site but we can tell you where to find them. – Laundry, Shop, Leisure facilities or Conference and meeting rooms, banqueting, clubs and entertainment.

Gardens

We have a deck area (7.7 x 3.1 metres) and small garden to the rear of the property. The deck area is accessed via a double glazed door, 79 cm wide in the bar. The door threshold is 3cm high inside, 15 cm wide and 10 cm high on the outside. There is garden furniture for your use.

The garden is accessed from the deck by three wooden steps (2 x19cm high x 87cm wide and 1 x 14 cm x 87cm) with a handrail to the left (94 cm high) to a 120cm wide paved path. It is mainly gravelled and planted.

The paved path leads to a set of 12 curved concrete steps (100cm wide at the narrowest and 12 cm high) down to the rear car park which is level and surfaced with tarmac. Road access is from Hill Park Terrace. Access times are restricted as the bar door is locked when we are not about.

Additional information

There is a fire alarm installed. Fire extinguishers are situated throughout the building. Call points are located on each landing and in the hall and bar. Emergency lights illuminate the stairs in the event of the alarm being triggered. Please let us know when you arrive if you have hearing problems and we will make sure that you are evacuated safely.

We do not permit smoking in the building but you may smoke on the deck or in the garden. Please ask for an ashtray.

We do not accept pet dogs but assistance dogs are welcome. We do have one cat that is not encouraged in to the public areas. Lucky will, however, try to say hello if you are in the bar.

Some rooms have refrigerators and we do have mini fridges available. We can also refrigerate medication and keep any perishables in our fridge for a limited period.

Mobile phone reception is generally good.

Information leaflets about the local area are displayed in the hall and bar area. There is a guest information folder in each room giving details about the property and area including medical help. We can provide this in large print.

Radar/Disabled toilets can be found throughout Torbay. Those locally are at Paignton Green, Palace Avenue, Parkside/Victoria Square and Preston North. Radar keys are available from the Tourist Information Centre.

Contact information

Address: Beecroft Lodge,
10 St. Andrews Road,
Paignton,
Devon
TQ4 6HA

Telephone: 01803 558702

When we are away from the accommodation this number is usually diverted to our mobile phone but if not diverted there is an answerphone so please leave a message.

Email: stay@beecroftlodge.co.uk

Website: www.beecroftlodge.co.uk

We are open all year but do take occasional time off.

Future plans

We intend to replace the corded kettles with cordless kettles. As and when the carpets in the ensuite rooms needs replacing slip resistant vinyl will be installed.

We welcome your feedback to help us continually improve. If you have any comments or want any further information please contact us by telephone on 01803 558702 or e mail stay@beecroftlodge.co.uk

Large print hard copy access statement available on request.