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Welcome

The Grade II listed Backhouse Bank building and neighbouring Barrington School building in the centre of Bishop Auckland have been transformed into the new Gallery by architectural practice Feilden Clegg Bradley Studios.

Spanish gallery external image

Level access

The main entrance has level access. The ramp is permanent.

There is level access from the main entrance to:

Lord Burns Reading RoomGallery 01Gallery 02Gallery 03Gallery 04ReceptionPublic ToiletSpanish Gallery Tapas BarSpanish Gallery ShopBuggy Storage

Hearing

We have a hearing loop in Welcome/Ticketing Desk within the shop on the ground floor.
All staff have disability awareness training.

Visual

The walls and the doors have high colour contrast.

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

Market Place
Bishop Auckland
DL17 7NJ

Travel by public transport

You can get to Spanish Gallery by bus and train.
The nearest bus stops are in the market place opposite Spanish Gallery and the Town Hall. The bus stop is 0.0 miles / 0.0 km from Spanish Gallery.
The nearest train station is Bishop Auckland Train Station. The train station is 1 miles / 1.6 km from Spanish Gallery.

If travelling by bus you should alight at Bishop Auckland Market Place

The following bus services, service both stops:

Arriva route 6 runs between Durham Barnard Castle via Cockfield, stopping approximately every 30 mins.

Arriva route 18 runs between Durham Barnard Castle via Cockfield, stopping approximately every 30 mins.

Arriva route 56/56A runs between Durham and Bishop Auckland, stopping approximately every 30 mins.

Please check bus routes direct with transport providers. There are additional services that service Bishop Auckland bus station which is located near the Newgate Shopping Centre.

Travel by taxi

You can get a taxi with S & S Travel by calling 01388 615531. The taxi company has a wheelchair accessible vehicle.
We have a transfer service for visitors. Wheelchair users can use the transfer service.

We have no affiliation with the suggested taxi services and the information provided is based on current available data at the time of writing this guide. Any suggestions for alternative please inform the accessibility point of contact.

Parking

There is parking near the venue. There are accessible parking spaces. 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 has a dropped kerb.
From the car park to the entrance, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp.
The path is sloped.

Blue badge parking bays are available in the market place directly opposite Spanish Gallery. This is also the drop off area.

Additional parking including blue badge spaces is available on North Bondgate which is approximately 0.2 miles / 322 meters

Arrival

Path to main entrance

From the street to the main entrance, there is level access.
There is a permanent ramp.
The path is 600mm wide, or more.
The path is sloped.

Main entrance

The main entrance has level access.
There is a permanent ramp.
The door is 600mm wide.
The main door is side hung and automatic.
The door has a push button to open it.
The main door is sliding and automatic.

There are two entrances into Spanish gallery one via the ramp and the other via a step. Both lead into a foyer area with two additional automatic sliding doors (side by side).

Getting around inside

Visual Impairment - General Information

We have high colour contrast between walls and doorframes.

Lift

We have 1 lift.
You can get a lift to all floors.

Lift to all floors

The lift door is 680mm wide.
The lift is 670mm wide. The lift is 1040mm deep.
The lift says the floor number at each floor.
The lift buttons have raised numbers or letters.
The lift shows the floor number, at each floor.
Lift panel Inside of the lift

Ticket/ information desk

Reception

From the main entrance to the desk, there is level access. The desk has a low section.

Lord Burns Reading Room

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. The route is 370mm wide, or more. The door is 370mm wide.
Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

Access to the Lord Burns reading room is at the rear on the ground floor. 

Gallery 01

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a lift.
Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

Automatic opening doors which open inwards towards the gallery.

Gallery 02

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a lift.
The door is 560mm wide.
Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

Gallery 02 is located on Floor 2. There are 32 steps between the ground floor and floor 2. The gallery is accessible via the lift. Gallery access doors are automatic opening inwards towards the gallery. 

Gallery 03

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a lift.
From the lift to this area, the route is 420mm wide, or more. The door is 560mm wide.
Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

Gallery 03 is located on Floor 3. There are 14 steps between floor 2 and floor 3. The gallery is accessible via the lift. Gallery access doors are automatic opening inwards towards the gallery. 

Gallery 04

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access. There is a lift.
Some display information is low, for wheelchair users. There are seats.

Gallery 04 is located on Floor 4. There are 12 steps between floor 3 and floor 2. The gallery is accessible via the lift. Gallery access doors are automatic opening inwards towards the gallery. There are small narrow access points within this gallery.

Public toilet

Public Toilet

There is a public toilet for disabled visitors.
From the main entrance to the public toilet, there is level access. The route is 320mm wide, or more.
The toilet door is 410mm wide.
The direction of transfer onto the toilet is to the right.
There is 410mm at the side of the toilet. There is 430mm in front of the toilet. The toilet seat is 190mm high. The toilets have handrails.
Accessibility toilet ground floor

Shop

Spanish Gallery Shop

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

The shop is located on the ground floor at the main entrance. This is also the same area for the reception / information desk.

Spanish gallery shop

Place to eat and drink

Spanish Gallery Tapas Bar

From the main entrance to the dining area, there is level access. There is a permanent ramp. To get to a table, there are no steps.
There is no background music.
Wheat free

**Note the Spanish Gallery Tapas Bar is currently closed whilst the finishing touches are made ready for opening in 2022**

Further details will be available in the separate accessibility guide for the Spanish Gallery Tapas Bar.

Buggy Storage

From the main entrance to this area, there is level access.

Located on the ground floor located between the shop and the stairs is an area with lockers and buggy storage (lockable).

Getting around outside

Customer care support

Accessibility equipment

We have a hearing loop in Welcome/Ticketing Desk within the shop on the ground floor.

Emergency evacuation procedures

We have emergency evacuation procedures for disabled visitors.

Evac chairs are located in exit stairways and trained fire wardens are on site to assist members of the public during an evacuation.

Example evacuation chair in fire exit route.

Customer care support

All staff have disability awareness training.
Guide info
Any information, comments and views made available to users via this Accessibility Guide are provided directly from third party business operators. VisitEngland and VisitScotland do not endorse or validate this information. Any reliance on this Accessibility Guide is at your own risk. This guide is not intended to be a substitute for users making their own checks, inquiries and investigations directly with the business operators prior to making any booking or visiting the venue.