Accessibility Guide for Blackfriars Restaurant

Welcome

Welcome to Blackfriars Restaurant a former Dominican Friary that dates back to 1239.Blackfriars is a Grade I Listed Building and a Scheduled Ancient Monument .We serve traditional historic dishes made from fresh, local and seasonal produce.Service is relaxed, informal and friendly yet professional with consistent attention to detail. We aim to provide access to people of all abilities as far as is practicable and possible.

Watch the video: Blackfriars Restaurant- A Taste of History

Level access

The main entrance has level access.

There is level access from the main entrance to:

Parlour Bar Dining Table Banquet Hall Cloister Garden

Access with steps

There are steps from the main entrance to:

Public Toilet- Main Restaurant Disabled Toilet- Next to Banquet Hall Cookery School Tasting Room Meeting Room

Hearing

The fire alarm has flashing lights.

All staff have disability awareness training. Some staff have BSL training.

Visual

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

The menu is in large print.

We have information in large print.

General

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

All staff have disability awareness training.

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Getting here

Friars street

NEWCASTLE

NE1 4XN

Travel by public transport

You can get to Blackfriars Restaurant by bus, train and metro.

The nearest bus stop to Blackfriars is Clayton Street 126 meters and Newgate Street 150 meters. There is a bus station at Eldon Sqaure about 800 meters away. The bus stop is 0.1 miles / 0.2 km from Blackfriars Restaurant .

The nearest train station is Newcastle Central Station . The train station is 0.3 miles / 0.5 km from Blackfriars Restaurant .

The nearest underground station is Newcastle Central Station . The underground station is 0.3 miles / 0.5 km from Blackfriars Restaurant .

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with Noda by calling 0191 222 1888. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.

Parking

There is parking near the venue. The parking is less than 50 metres from the main entrance. Parking is not free.

There is a drop-off point at the main entrance. The drop-off point does not have a dropped kerb.

From the car park to the entrance, there is level access. The route is 1360mm wide, or more.

There is a 10 space, paid car park by the Restaurant as well as metered roadside parking on Friars Street and Bath Lane. Friars street is a cobbled road and care should be taken when walking on it. The car park is 25meters to the restaurant entrance and there is a 2cm curb from the cobbles to the pavement. It is possible to drop off and collect guests at the front door should anyone prefer not to walk from and to the car park. Taxis always drop off and collect from the front door.

Arrival

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.

The path is 1360mm wide, or more.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.

The door is 1450mm wide.

The main door is side hung and manual.

There is access from street level through a set of double doors which open inwards with a clear width of 145cm. The wooden floor is wheel chair friendly and the chairs and tables can be easily arranged to accommodate wheel chairs or walking aids. This area is well lit inside & out.

Getting around inside

Some parts of the venue have low lighting.

Bar

Parlour Bar

From the main entrance to the bar, there is level access. There is a portable ramp. The route is 900mm wide, or more.

The door is 1180mm wide.

The main entrance to the Parlour bar is down 2 steps which are 150cm wide and 16cm high. The entrance is a set of double doors which open towards you and are 118cm wide with a sloping stone step into the room 9cm high. There is an alternative entrance to the bar which has 2 small steps 90cm wide and 9cm high. We have a portable access ramp which can be used for wheel chairs for this entrance and the banquet hall entrance.

Public toilet

Public Toilet- Main Restaurant

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there are 14 steps. There is no lift and no ramp.

The main restaurant toilets are accessed from the upper dining area. There are 14 steps 90cm wide and 16cm high. The toilet cubicle doors push inwards and are 70cm wide with a small step into them 16cm high. There are 3 male toilets and 3 female toilets

Public toilet

Disabled Toilet- Next to Banquet Hall

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.

From the main entrance to the public toilet, there are 5 steps. There is no lift and no ramp.

The disabled access toilet is located next to the banquet hall which is 42 meters from the main restaurant entrance. However access is restricted as there 5 steps to the Banquet hall toilets and disabled toilet are 100cm wide and 17cm high. We are in the process of commisoning an external lift to access the disabled toilet we hope this will be finished by late Autumn 2023.

The toilet door is 90cm wide. Inside are baby changing facilities. The toilet height is 48cm from the floor and has a back rest, grab rails and a fold down support bar. An assistance required pull cord system is in operation as well as a red flashing fire alarm light within the toilet.

Place to eat and drink

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. The route is 850mm wide, or more. To get to a table, there are no steps.

The menu is offered in large print.

The route through the dining area is 800mm wide, or more.

There is background music.

The table and plates have high colour contrast.

We cater for sugar free (diabetic), vegetarian, gluten free (celiacs), lactose free (dairy free), nut free, low fat, low sodium, high fibre, vegan specific diets.

Pescatarian

Most dishes can be adapted to cater for necessary dietary requirements. Whilst we try to avoid cross-contamination we cannot guarantee any dish is completely allergen free.

Although we dont provide Halal or Kosher meat we do have a good range of vegetrian options.

Banquet Hall

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 1360mm wide, or more.

The door is 1400mm wide.

The entrance to the Banquet Hall is through a set of double doors 140cm wide with a small step up 15cm high. The 5 steps to the Banquet hall toilets and disabled toilet are 100cm wide and 17cm high

Cookery School

From the main entrance to this area, there are 18 steps. There is no lift and no ramp.

The Cookery School is located on the first floor and is accessed from the upper dining area. The upper dining area is accessed by two sets of 4 steps, 90cm wide and 16-18cm high. The first floor is accessed by 14 steps 90cm wide and 16cm high. There are 3 steps 15cm high and 113cm wide into the Cookery School.

Tasting Room

From the main entrance to this area, there are 18 steps. There is no lift and no ramp.

The Tasting Room is located on the first floor and is accessed from the upper dining area. The upper dining area is accessed by two sets of 4 steps, 90cm wide and 16-18cm high. The first floor is accessed by 14 steps 90cm wide and 16cm high.

Our unique Tasting Room is located above the restaurant in the original Tanners Guild meeting area, featuring their original antique 19th century seating. Access aroud the cirular table is narrow in parts approx 600mm in places.

Meeting Room

From the main entrance to this area, there are 21 steps. There is no lift and no ramp.

The Meeting Room is located on the first floor of an adjacent building to the restaurant. This is accessed by 4 steps 100cm wide and 17cm high to the entrance. The entrance door way is 90cm then up a flight of 17 steps 84cm wide and 19cm high, with a bend in the stairs from step 10 to 17.

Getting around outside

Cloister Garden

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. The route is 1130mm wide, or more.

The entrance is 2000mm wide.

To get to a table, there are no steps.

Our newly renovated, 13th century Cloister Garden space promises to be the most exciting al fresco dining and drinking space in the city centre! With heated parasols, fire pits, ambient festoon lighting and beautiful planting harmonising with natural wood and stone, it really is the place to be this summer.

The space is all-weather level-access, licensed for outdoor performance, markets and other community activities.

Customer care support

Reading glasses

The nearest toilet area for assistance dogs is the glassed area next to the Cloister Garden. Dog bowls available for water.

We have an area to charge mobility scooters and battery powered wheelchairs.

There is an external socket in the Cloister Garden to charge a mobility scooter or battery powered wheelchair. Alternatively in poor weather these can be charged in the parlour bar using the portabe ramp as access.

You can hire mobility equipment from Shopmobility by calling 0191 261 6176.

Emergency evacuation procedures

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

The fire alarm has flashing lights.

There is a red flashing fire alarm light within the toilets.

Customer care support

All staff have disability awareness training.

Some staff have BSL training.

We have information in large print.