12 Dec 2024
A new survey by members of St Albans & District Shopmobility has produced a list of recommended shops and premises for mobility scooter and
wheelchair users.
Survey questions were based on what members need to know should they wish to visit a pub, café, shop, restaurant or other premises in St Albans.
Key issues looked at included: getting there, access and egress, internal space to allow movement and if lifts and toilets were provided and adequate.
In total, 130 surveys were completed at 105 different premises in St Albans city centre, The Quadrant in Marshalswick and the Abbey View Retail Park.
Of these, 62 of the premises passed the survey (65 per cent of the total), while 43 of the premises failed (35 per cent).
Shopmobility manager Juliet Prodger said: “Our members went out looking to see if shops and eateries provide room not just to get into the place but also to move
around once inside so they can enjoy looking at the products for sale or comfortably enjoy a meal.
“The survey has been about practicalities of daily life. We want our members to have a better shopping experience when in St Albans.”
Shopmobility said it understood that not all businesses are based in easily adaptable buildings and that some places can be small and niche, but wants businesses to think about how they can improve access and space for movement.
To encourage this approach, Shopmobility would like to encourage ‘recommended’ premises to display a sticker at their entrance to show scooter and wheelchair users that they have made room for them, ie ‘Room For Us’.
Juliet added: “We received funds from St Albans City Centre BID (Business Improvement District) to print our survey and continue to work with them to create a list of recommended businesses that can be attached to our scooters so that when people hire them the information is ready for them to use.
“Our aim is to celebrate businesses making space so we have a good shopping experience and we welcome any shop, café or business premises that welcomes the public into its premises to talk to us about how they can improve the layout.”
Any business that wishes to explore what it can do to improve the space in its premises can contact: stalbansshopmobility@hotmail.co.uk
The survey recommends good accessibility at:
- The Waterend Barn – St Peter’s Street
- Pret-a-Manger – St Peter’s Street
- Abigails – The Arcade (If you can get out of your scooter or wheelchair)
- Aspava – St Peter’s Street (If you can get out of your scooter or wheelchair)
- Bakers and Baristas – The Maltings
- Black Sheep Coffee – St Peter’s Street
- Bill’s – Chequer Street
- The Beechhouse – St Peter’s Street
- Crepe Affaire – Market Place
- Costa Coffee – St Peter’s Street
- Cross Street Café – Cross Street
- Greggs – St Peter’s Street
- Five Guys – St Peter’s Street
- Hatch – Christopher Place
- Knoops – Market Place
- Lussmans – Heritage Close
- Wagamama – Christopher Place
- The Slug and Lettuce – Victoria Street
Shops in the city centre that are mobility scooter and wheelchair accessible include:
- Mooch – The Maltings
- Mister Simms Sweetshop – The Maltings
- Oliver Bonas – The Maltings
- O2 – St Peter’s Street
- Pandora – The Maltings
- The St Albans Abbey Gift and Retail Shop
- Sports Direct – The Maltings
- Tesco – St Peter’s Street
- The Entertainer – St Peter’s Street
- Three – The Maltings
- Waterstones – St Peter’s Street
- Wenzels – Chequer Street
- Whitestuff – Market Place
- Wacky Barbers – Verulam Road
- Boots – St Peter’s Street
- Coop – London Road
- The Card Factory – St Peter’s Street
- Clarks – St Peter’s Street
- Fatface – Market Place
- Holland and Barrett – St Peter’s Street
- Hotel Chocolate – The Maltings
- Kingshill Jewellers – Market Place
- Marks and Spencer’s – St Peter’s Street
- Mint Velvet – St Peter’s Street
Other recommended sites in St Albans city centre are:
- Natwest Bank – St Peter’s Street
- The Museum and Gallery – St Peter’s Street
- The Post Office – St Peter’s Street
- Santander – St Peter’s Street
- Alban Arena – St Peter’s Street
- Barclays Bank – St Peter’s Street
- Civic Centre – St Peter’s Street
- Halifax Bank – St Peter’s Street
- HSBC Bank – Chequer Street
- Lloyds Bank – Chequer Street
Premises outside of the city centre that were recommended by scooter and wheelchair users include:
- Quadrant Unisex Hair – The Quadrant
- Quadrant Pharmacy – The Quadrant (ask for the ramp)
- Runners World – The Quadrant
- Sainsbury’s – Abbey View Retail Park
- Specsavers at Sainsbury’s – Abbey View Retail Park
- The Range – Abbey View Retail Park
- Wright’s Jewellers – The Quadrant
- B-Healthy – The Quadrant
- Budgens – The Quadrant
- Ladbrokes – The Quadrant.
