OpenBritain Blog » London

Candoco Dance Company to perform at The Squidz Club

Craig Grimes — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 16:40:21 +0000

I seem to have a bit of a thing for disabled dancers and up to now I’ve blogged events by the AMICI dance group. This time it’s the turn of The Candoco Dance Company which is also a contemporary dance group for both disabled and non-disabled dancers.

Candoco will be performing at the Squidz Club on Friday 23rd April from 7 – 11pm. The Squidz Club is held 3 times per year for young people between the ages of 14 – 25 that have learning disabilities. The Candoco event will take place at the Albany, Depford, London.

Share this on:

Marathon Support for Sailability

Craig Grimes — Tue, 13 Apr 2010 15:11:05 +0000

Today the Royal Yachting Association (RYA) announced that Phil Packer who is spinal cord injured will walk the Virgin London Marathon to raise funds for several different organisations. Phil will walk the 25th mile for RYA Sailability during the marathon on the 25th April 2010.

Phil is hoping to complete the event in 26 hours starting at 10am on the 25th and finishing at 12 noon on the 26th. He will walk each mile with a support walker between the ages of 15 – 25 from the different organisations he is raising funds for.

For the full story and to sponsor Phil, please visit the RYA Sailability article or visit Phil’s website.

Share this on:

The Magic of Amici

Craig Grimes — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 16:19:55 +0000

Tickets for this event are still available for Thursday 11th February 2010, please see the Riverside Studios website for further details.

Share this on:

OpenBritain to Launch OpenLondon

Craig Grimes — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 16:56:02 +0000

The new OpenLondon guide is the definitive guide for visitors to London with access needs. The guide contains everything required to enjoy London to the full.

OpenLondon is packed with useful information on accommodation, places of interest, transport, theatres, restaurants and shopping.

Clear, attractive entries present the reader with facts at their fingertips and useful maps help find locations.

Inspirational information about places to visit and practical advice on getting around the city make this guide an invaluable holiday or business trip planning tool for anyone with access needs.

Why advertise in the OpenLondon guide?

If you want to promote your accessible services to an enormous, largely untapped market, this is the publication for you.

• The OpenLondon guide is a unique publication – a definitive travel guide for people with access needs. OpenLondon has everything needed to explore and enjoy London to the full

• Display advertisers also receive a free detailed listing including photographs and a link to your website on www.openbritain.net

• OpenLondon will be marketed through networks used by disabled people including RADAR and Tourism for All UK

• OpenLondon is available in newsagents, bookshops and Tourist Information Centres throughout the UK

• The OpenLondon guide is a full colour, high quality book

• This publication is the OFFICIAL guide which is supported by The Mayor of London, Visit London and the London Development Agency

For further information please download the OpenLondon Media Pack below.

OpenLondon Media Pack

Share this on:

Tate Collection

Craig Grimes — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:53:17 +0000

When I think of the Tate Gallery I think of one gallery in London, maybe this is because I’m simply not in the know, the Tate Collection is actually 4 galleries across the UK and they provide quite a lot of information for disabled people on their website. I would recommend that you visit the website and have a look around for the information that you require but here’s a brief over view of the galleries and some of the available information.

The website is broken down into the 4 seperate gallaries, Tate Britain, Modern (both in London), Liverpool and St. Ives. In each section the format is the same.

On the Visiting pages there is general information regarding the specific gallery including the address, opening hours, admission prices and how to get there. This information is also available in British Sign Language (BSL) through RealPlayer and it also gives the Minicom number for deaf people.

Visiting Pages:

Tate Britain

Tate Modern

Tate Liverpool

Tate St. Ives
Each of the galleries has an Access and Facilities Page and a page relating to different programmes that the gallery runs for visitors with learning disabilities, blind and deaf people.

Access and Facilities:

Programmes:

The Tate Boat

There is also the Tate Boat which runs between the Tate Britain and Tate Modern and the site states that:
The Tate Boat can accommodate wheelchair users.

However, exceptionally high tides mean that the Tate Boat cannot navigate certain Thames bridges and a replacement vessel may be used at these times. Some replacement vessels are not able to accommodate wheelchair users so we strongly recommend that customers call 020 7887 8888 on the day of travel for further details.

Guide and hearing dogs are welcome on the Tate Boat.

Access at the Tate Collection

You can find all of this of this information and more on one handy Tate Collection Access Page.

Share this on:

Copthorne Tara, London

Craig Grimes — Mon, 09 Nov 2009 15:55:53 +0000

The Copthorne Tara Hotel in London has recently published new information about it’s adapted rooms which includes basic information such as:

Larger bedrooms featuring adapted facilities throughout. Double and twin beds are available and most of them offer the option of an interconnecting room.

All of the adapted bedroom doors open and close electronically, allowing ample time for a wheelchair user to pass through. Door locks are electronically actuated by a key card and the bedside control panels allow operation of the radio, TV and room lights.

Wheelchair accessibility is excellent. Vehicles can stop within feet of the main entrance which is level and has automatic sliding doors. The lobby area is completely level and there is a lower section at the front desk to facilitate wheelchair users.

Conference & Banqueting facilities are also accessible with assisted listening systems available for those with hearing impairments.

The hotel was chosen as the hotel with the best adapted facilities in the UK at the M&IT Awards 2006.

This hotel can be booked at a discounted rate through Tourism for All after registering with the website and the Copthorne Tara have also provided a more detailed 2 page PDF factsheet about facilities for disabled people at the hotel.

Share this on:

Bonfire Night at Alexandra Palace, London

Craig Grimes — Thu, 05 Nov 2009 15:48:20 +0000

Can’t make it to a Bonfire tonight? Never fear, there are lots happening over the weekend too. If you’re in the London area there’s one on Saturday 7th November at Alexander Palace with events starting at 4.30pm. In adition to the usual facilities for disabled people an allocated viewing area will also be provided.

The entertainment will include the country’s biggest and best German Bier Festival in the Great Hall. The family friendly festival features ‘frauleins’ in the form of authentic Bavarian waitresses serving a wide selection of German biers and food to the table and London’s finest Oompah Band playing Oktoberfest classics. Adding to the carnival atmosphere will be Chas and his Band (fronted by Chas Hodges from cockney duo Chas & Dave), performing a rare set of Chas n Dave classics and there will also be an Ale Festival and family fun area in the West Hall, special ice skating sessions and funfairs in the park.

Share this on:

Scare Witch Trials at UK Dungeons

Craig Grimes — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 16:05:43 +0000

The Scare Witch Trials can be found at dungeons in London, Edinburgh and York from the 17th – 31st October and according to the Dungeons website you have to:

“Keep your wits about you as you as you pick your way through clawing bony branches of the Dungeons’ creaking woodlands where the Scare Witch darts between the shadows ready to pounce on the lost and unwary.

Should you make it through the darkness of the Dungeons’ hellish Halloween forest alive prepare to face the Witch-finder General in the Dungeons’ 17th century courtroom.

Be prepared to stand trial as he searches out the witches amongst you and quake in your boots as those in the dock before you are sentenced for horrendous witch crimes. What will be found guilty of? Turning yourself into a frog on Fridays? Being too pertinent with peculiar potions? Or cackling continuously over a cauldron?”

Finding information for disbled people on the Dungeons website isn’t all that easy but if you type “disabled access” into the Dungeon’s FAQ search engine it comes back with some information such as:

“Are the Dungeons Accessible for Disabled Customers?

Yes, All the dungeons have wheelchair access, however certain rides are not suitable for disabled customers.

Please see below for full details for York Dungeons disability access:

The York Dungeon is unsuitable for battery powered electric wheelchairs or mobility scooters, however we do have a standard manual wheel chair on site which can be used (subject to availability). This wheel chair would need to be pushed by an accompanying carer. Therefore it is necessary for you to be able to transfer from an electric wheelchair or mobility scooter to the manual chair. We have two flights of stairs, both sets of stairs have stair lifts and again you must be able to transfer from the wheel chair to the stair lift to gain entry.

The York Dungeon is situated in a Grade 2 Listed building and this does cause some restrictions for guests with mobility difficulties.

Please call the York Dungeon directly on 01904 632599 and speak to a member of staff prior to booking or arrival to check suitability. Our staff will be happy to answer any questions regarding access to the York Dungeon.”

Share this on:

Tricking and Treating at the London Eye

Craig Grimes — Tue, 20 Oct 2009 15:26:16 +0000

Halloween is coming up so we’ve decided to take a look at what inclusive fun can be had for disabled people. In london the “London Eye, will be transformed with its landscape changed into a spooky forest complete with a bubbling bog of no return for children who’ve been naughty. From Saturday October 24th to Sunday November 1st, two very peculiar witch sisters will be teaching children a lesson about the perils of misbehaving with Witch Trick encouraging children to be naughty and Witch Treat trying to save them from her wicked sister.”

Information for disable people, including wheelchair users and people with visual and hearing impairments can be found on the London Eye website.

Share this on:

Amici Dance Theatre Company Workshop

Craig Grimes — Wed, 07 Oct 2009 17:05:34 +0000

The Amici Dance Theatre Company is a unique company integrating disabled and non-disabled artists and performers. Founded in 1980, Amici’s productions and workshops have had a major impact worldwide challenging conventional attitudes about disability and the arts.

On the 14th October Amici are holding an open workshop at The Lyric, Hammersmith, London, which will be run by Wolfgang Strange.
Tickets cost £5 and are to be paid on the door

If you are interested in taking part or would like more information please email admin@turtlekeyarts.org.uk or call Turtle Key Arts 020 8964 5060.

Share this on: