Monthly Archives: May 2013

Tony Macaronis- Byres Road

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Tony macaronis on byres road is a great classy Italian restaurant and champagne bar. Overall it is a great Italian and good spot for a night out with friends. There’s a nice buzz, the food’s delicious and not too pricey
The science bit
- level access through one set of doors
- relatively good room to get about inside
- disabled loo accessible clean and not full of junk
- staff really helpful when I phoned to check in advance
Suitable for wheelchair users
Downsides: No nearby parking and there is upstairs bit so would need to specific downstairs table when booking

Epicures of Hyndland

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Epicures of Hyndland is a modern posh local cafe/ restaurant
Positives
- level access to main dining level (there is a mezzanine so if booking table be careful about that)
- relatively easy to manoeuvre around
- nice clean disabled loo available
- seems to have good buzz whatever time you go there and does lovely deli type food
Negatives
- parking in hyndland is tricky but it is near stops for no.44 bus which first bus informs me is predominantly run with accessible buses (have not tested this myself)
- at busy times staff can be little keen to get you out the door
Overall, parking aside this is a great accessible spot for some sophisticated light bite

tinderbox – byres rd

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Tinderbox is a great wee coffee shop chain. One I’m reviewing is the byres rd branch
Positives
- level access and majority, one elevated seating area (2-3 steps)
- disabled loo clean and accessible
- great range cakes, coffees etc if a little pricey
- happy to offer to carry your order across/ provide assistance
Negatives
- parking very difficult as always in west end. A small paid car park is available across the crossroads
Overall a friendly and accessible cafe

http://www.glasgowonline.co.uk/info/25768

Strata – Queen Street

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Strata in Queen Street is a recently reopened cocktail bar and restaurant. It used to be one of the more popular Glasgow cocktail bars but closed for a number of years so if you Google you may find it seems to be closed. I promise it’s very much open for business.
Positives
-level access to restaurant
-disabled toilet available, although lacking an emergency cord
-staff very friendly and helpful
-good menu ranging from light lunchtime snacks to more substantial dishes but far more sophisticated than your usual pub grub
-good selection of more unusual cocktails albeit not as many as used to be available -likely, trendy bar with a good bit of buzz
Negatives
-some areas of the restaurant do not have level access so should specify when booking a groundfloor table
-partying in this part of town is very difficult. There are one or two disabled on street spaces in the surrounding area. And there is an NCP car park at Central Station and the car park at St Enoch  centre although both of these are about 10 minutes walk away.
Parking aside, this is a relatively accessible cocktail bar and restaurant situated nicely between Buchanan Street, Royal exchange square and merchants city and I would thoroughly recommend it.

Cup- byres rd

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Cup is a New York style cup cakes speciality Cafe in the West End.
Positives
-level access and a decent amount of seating on the ground floor. It is also possible to book advance so tables on the ground floor can be guaranteed
-bathroom is available on the ground floor but space is too tight to accommodate a wheelchair
-it has the most awesome and extensive range of cupcakes I’ve found in the West End. It also has a much better than average range of herbal teas plus a decent range of savoury snacks and lunches. -staff are really friendly, helpful and accommodating
Negatives
-save the lack of a disabled toilet the main disadvantage as always on Byres Road is difficult parking
Overall I would strongly recommend cup to those with limited mobility (though not dependent on wheelchairs) as a fun, friendly place great for afternoon snacking and gossiping http://www.cupglasgow.co.uk/

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/