Author Archives: Jinxcc

Glasgow concert Halls

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Glasgow concert Halls
I want to highlight today Glasgow concert Hall. This is a great accessible venue hosting a wide range of entertainment including classical, traditional, jazz music as well as comedy, dance and theatre. The website gives really comprehensive details but I just wanted to highlight a couple points
Positives
-all Halls are accessible to wheelchair users: With level access from North Street and platform and regular lifts inside -wheelchair spaces are available, in good position and come with a free attendant ticket
-the bar, shop and toilets are all wheelchair accessible
-disabled parking is available in the concert hall car Park across the road. There are dropped curbs and a pedestrian crossing between the two
Negative
-there is only one lift to the main auditorium so progress can be slow allow lots of time
Overall, this is a great accessible venue for enjoying a bit of culture http://www.glasgowconcerthalls.com/facilities

S’mug -Byres road

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S’mug is a small cafe coffee shop just off Byres road beside marks and Spencer’s.
Positives
-level access and level throughout -movable seating and disabled accessible toilet
-good selection of sandwiches, cakes, milkshakes and hot drinks
- car park space (although expensive) adjacent
Negative
-quite small space some manoeuvring in wheelchair difficult at busy times
-entrance door quite heavy and slight incline in pavement on way out
Overall, a relatively decent spot for a light snack or drink especially when smaller cafes on Byres road become overcrowded http://www.list.co.uk/place/103285-smug/

The Italian Caffe – Merchant city

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The Italian Caffe is an lovely Italian tapas restaurant in the Merchant city. Positives
-slight upward ramp into restaurant otherwise level throughout
-disabled toilet available and clean -parking available at NCP car park across the road. However, terrain in car park very uneven
-Marshalled taxi rank available 5 minutes down the street if prefer not to drive
-Merchant city Square, which has a range of accessible bars is also just across the road providing options for nearby follow on drinks
-excellent range of traditional and more contemporary Italian dishes. I had a selection of delicious meat tapas dishes but I went with a vegan friend who was really impressed with the choice available to suit her requirements. It is also moderately reasonably priced.
-the restaurant feels sophisticated, the decor is contemporary, atmosphere lively and the staff very friendly and accommodating
Negatives
-some tables are booths so when booking remember to ask for a table with movable sitting
I am a big fan of Italian food but this is one of my favourite restaurants both for the restaurant itself and for its convenience for car parking, taxis, other bars and night life. Would thoroughly recommend. http://www.theitaliancaffe.co.uk/

silverburn shopping centre

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So silverburn shopping centre is a modern, large shopping centre on the outskirts of of Glasgow. Its website gives comprehensive access information but just wanted to highlight it here to make people aware.
Positives
- plentiful, free disabled spaces within an internal carpark that links to the shopping centre
- Smooth level surface within shopping centre, multiple lifts including within stores
- Numerous disabled toilet facilities
- Numerous cafes, restaurants which are also accessible
- Great range of clothes shops which have room for manoeuvring a wheelchair through
- Shop mobility available providing mobility scooters, manual and powered wheelchairs for free. Note must be reserved in advance and some aids require a training session before use
Negatives
- Only if I’m being really picky there isn’t a bookshop or any cinema that sometimes other centres have
Overall, a really great accessible shopping centre. http://m.shopsilverburn.com/visitor-info/facilities/shopmobility

Boudoir wine bar – Merchant city Square

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Boudoir wine bar is a sophisticated wine and cocktail bar in Merchant city Square.
Positives
-Level access from within the square or from the street at all entrances. though power-assisted doors are available at the entrance where candleriggs meets bell Street
-One slight downward ramp into main part of bar otherwise level access
-Disabled toilet available and clean
-Table service is standard, which avoids the difficulty of negotiating towards and waiting at the bar
-Good selection of moderately extensive wine, champagne and cocktails. Decadent decor with black velvet draped curtains and candles
-parking available at NCP car park along the road. However, terrain in car park very uneven
-Marshalled taxi rank available 5 minutes down the street if prefer not to drive
-Merchant city Square, has a range of other accessible bars and restaurants providing for a good night out
Negatives
-small venue, on a busy Saturday night could be difficult to manoeuvre and wheelchair in the main part of the bar and into the toilet. Although, there is a small area near the entrance which is usually quieter.
-some tables are booths so when booking remember to ask for a table with movable sitting
Overall, this is a great sophisticated cocktail and wine bar for those with mobility difficulties. However, for those who use a wheelchair it may be challenging at busy times. http://www.boudoirwinebar.com/

Cafezique and delizique – Partickhill

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Cafezique and delizique are two linked eateries in the West end. This review focuses on Cafezique
Positives
-level access to building, to some of the tables, to the bar and toilet facilities
-good range of unusual deli type food including all day breakfast, soups, sandwiches, main meals and cakes
Negatives
-parking in this part of the West End can be almost impossible
-pathway to toilet too narrow for a wheelchair due to tables and bar stools.
There is a 5 cm step up to the toilet entrance. Within the toilet there are no grab rails, the emergency cord is tied up out of reach and the sink/hand dryer facilities are at normal standing height.
Overall, this is a nice Cafe but is not suitable for the was dependent on a wheelchair. It would be suitable for those with mobility difficulties provided they could be dropped at the door

Theatre Royal Glasgow

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I’ve always liked going to the theatre for different kinds of shows and so I’m glad that they still some options available to me.
Positives
There is level access to the building and there is level access to the all seats in the stalls although this is down a moderately steep ramp.
There are two specific wheelchair seats and four transfer seats. These seats are near the stage which is good. However, if watching a production with supra titles they can be difficult to see from so far forward.
There are disabled accessible toilets and the box office/ bar are all on the ground floor
Negatives
Seats in the stalls can be expensive but there can be bargains if you book early. In a wheelchair seating there is a small discount in price.
If choosing an non-wheelchair specific seat in the stalls legroom can be cramped
There is no disabled parking  immediately nearby but there are two NCP car park’s within a block of the venue at Cambridge Street and concert halls.
Overall, whilst disabled seating is in short supply and a little more expensive it is still eminently possible to visit the theatre and have a very enjoyable experience http://www.atgtickets.com/venues/theatre-royal-glasgow/#showinfotabs=access

voice recognition software

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So today I wanted to talk about an app called Dragon. I think it could be really useful for those with upper limb problems as well as lower limb. It’s a free app from Apple. It converts your speech into text. So that by simply speaking into your phone you can send text directly to SMS, twitter, Facebook, e-mail or copy paste it to any other setting you’d like. I’ve recently started using it and find it really useful and hopefully others might too

Heart Buchanan -Byres rd

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Heart Buchanan is a small cafe and deli on Byres rd

Positives
the restaurant and deli are level inside
There is movable seating
It has a nice selection of deli type sandwiches, soup, quiches and lots of different cakes

Negatives
there is a step up to the premises
There is no disabled toilet and the non disabled facilities are downstairs
There is little room to manoeuvre within the venue
Being on Byres rd, parking is difficult although the Waitrose car park across the street does provide limited parking free up to 1hr

Overall this venue would not be suitable for wheelchair users. Users with limited mobility may be able to manage although not if they require the use of bathroom facilities.

The Hanoi bike shop

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The Hanoi bike shop is a Vietnamese style restaurant  just off Byres road.
Positives
there is level access to the venue but note there is some seating upstairs so be sure to specify a floor if booking and mobility is a problem.
There is level access to the ladies toilets and disabled toilet is available
There is movable seating so a wheelchair could be accommodated
The restaurant serves delicious Vietnamese food at a reasonable price. I would specifically recommend the caramel chilli chicken
The staff are friendly and helpful. And its cool colourful almost shack like interior adds to the laid back studenty feel
Negative
The restaurant can only be accessed by walking down a small and uneven lane which might be difficult for those with mobility difficulties or some wheelchairs
Note, most of the seats low stools with no back support which might be difficult to some individuals
As usual, parking on byres rd remains difficult
Overall, aside from the access down the lane, this is a lovely new unique Vietnamese restaurant offering a refreshing and tasty change from the usual on Byres road http://www.thehanoibikeshop.co.uk/