The Cavendish Hotel - Room Tour

Welcome back to Access London. Thank you once again for your continued support in promoting disabled access and awareness in London.



Today's post focuses on The Cavendish Hotel in Piccadilly and, in particular, the choice of rooms it has available that could be suited to meet your accessible needs. The Cavendish is Access London's recommended hotel for 2011 for all the reasons you would expect that make a hotel the perfect getaway: the service, the staff, the comfort, the warm welcome, the food and drink, the location, the value for money and the personal attention to detail. On top of all this, The Cavendish has made every attempt to make sure it meets the needs of its disabled guests.

Previous posts on The Cavendish have included, Afternoon Tea, Pre-Theatre Dinner, The Petrichor Restaurant and its outstanding Concierge Service. This post will address one of the most importnat aspects of any hotel - its rooms.

The first room Access London visited was a Twin Accessible Room (the same room can also be configured as a double). The Cavendish has several of these rooms on the 2nd and 3rd floors of the hotel - all of which can be accessed by one of the three lifts from the ground, reception floor. The rooms have been furnished in a way to allow room for a wheelchair or small-medium sized scooter to get around them without bumping into things. Therefore, the space alongside the bed(s) is greater and also the space around the desk/dressing table area. There are several emergency pull-cords throughout the rooms and also a 'call' button near the dressing table. For its deaf or hard of hearing guests, the fire alarm is also set to flash if it is needed.

The ensuite shower rooms in the accessible rooms are all roll-in adapted for a wheelchair with handrails throughout, a shower stool, lowered sink for easier access and emergency pull-cord.

Even with the adaptions and changes made to accommodate its disabled guests, these rooms don't lack the finishing touches you would expect from a 4* London hotel - comfort, charm, character and, luxury a touch of elegance.

The staff at The Cavendish are some of the most helpful and welcoming I have known in any hotel and are always happy to try and meet everyone's needs. To further discuss any requirements you might have and to make a reservation, please call: 020 7930 2111

This short video shows some of what you can expect to find in one of these rooms - again this room has Twin beds but the same configuration in a Double is also available.



The second room type I will mention is The Executive Twin (a double can also be booked). These rooms are not set up and classed as 'Accessible' but, would still suit some people with physical difficulties if you are looking for that extra something in a room!

The Executive rooms at The Cavendish are extremely spacious and although not set up as an allocated accessible room, there is more than enough room for a wheelchair or scooter inside. They occupy the higher foors of The Cavendish and guests can enjoy some spectacular London views from the windows.

Not being set up as an accessible room means that there are no emergency pull cords and hand rails as in the previous room mentioned in this post. The bathroom too would not be suited to someone who has to remain in their wheelchair at all times. Having said that, there are handrails by the bath and also inside the separate shower. The shower has to be stepped up into but if you can manage that then, a non-slip mat and hand grabs are inside and it is very spacious, meaning that you don't need to be able to get down into the bath tub.

This short video shows some of what guests can expect from an Exeuctive Room at The Cavendish.



I would recommend either of the above rooms at The Cavendish though obviously if you have a more severe disability or have to remain in your wheelchair then the accessible room is the best option for you. If you don't have to remain in a wheelchair at all times and you fancy that something even more special, perhaps to celebrate a birthday or anniversary, then The Executive Rooms offer that little bit extra luxury.


For completely able-bodied guests, there are several other options available in terms of room types. To book an Accessible Room, Executive Room and enquire about any of the other room options, please call The Cavendish on: 020 7930 2111

Alternatively, you can Visit The Cavendish Website Here

COMING SOON: Miro at Tate Britain, London Eye, Billy Elliot, Phantom of the Opera's 25th Celebrations.

Access London recommends Summer Afternoon Tea @ The Savoy Hotel

Welcome back to Access London, thank you to all our readers for your continued support of this blog.



Today's post is about Access London's recommended Afternoon Tea for Summer 2011 at the stunning Savoy Hotel. The Savoy is located on The Strand, 5 minutes from Trafalgar Square and just down the road from Charing Cross Station. This luxurious 5* hotel recently underwent a massive renovation - there was even a mini-series documentary on this that was aired last year.

This excerpt from The Savoy's website really says it all, the hotel combines traditional Englishness with modern touches:
"A British icon since 1989, The Savoy has once again taken its place on the world stage after over a £100 million restoration. The hotel seemlessly blends elements of the original and the new while the stunning English Edwardian and Art Deco interiors sparkle with timeless elegance and glamour."

The hotel can be accessed via its main entrance on The Strand which has level access into its extravagant foyer. The welcome and greeting you are shown by the doormen and front of house staff is friendly, warm and makes you feel like you are entering somewhere very special!

To reach The Thames Foyer Room where Afternoon Tea is served requires using 2 lifts, unless you can manage stairs with the help of a handrail. The Savoy does have its own wheelchair that you can transfer into if you don't have your own. This is an old building that has done everything it can to adapt to the modern needs of its disabled guests. However, if you use a large mobility scooter, I would advise that you take up the offer to use The Savoy's house wheelchair. Manual and electric wheelchairs and small to medium sized scooters can easily negotiate the lifts.



A member of staff will stay with you the whole way on the lifts and through some very opulent rooms (take advantage of this little detour as you will see some very special rooms that you might not otherwise have seen if you simply walked down the stairs to tea!).

The Thames Foyer Room is spacious and elegant. There is lots of room in between tables to move wheelchairs and scooters around and they have not tried to cram as many tables in as possible as is sometimes the case in large hotels. The waiting staff in The Thames Foyer are as welcoming as they were in the Foyer and more than happy to offer any help that they can to make you and your party comfortable, in fact the service is some of the best I have seen.

Afternoon Tea itself is served between 2.30pm and 6.30pm. Guests have the choice of two different teas: the first is the more traditional afternoon tea with a wide selection of finger sandwiches (vegetarian options available), plain and fruit scones with cream and jam, beautifully crafted and colourful pastries and traditional cakes. There is a huge range of teas from all over the world that you can choose to accompany this. Be warned: do not eat anything before you go, it is a large tea and you will always be offered more when you finish one of the selections! The second option is more savoury and includes hot, savoury dishes in place of the sweet pastries and cakes.



For such a grand and iconic hotel, the Afternoon Tea at The Savoy is very reasonably priced at £40 per person. Another lovely touch is the house pianist that plays throughout and who sits in the middle of the large antique gazebo in the middle of the room, playing relaxing tunes.

The Savoy asks that you dress smartly casual for afternoon tea and advanced booking is definitely recommended. You can make a reservation or call to discuss your access and dietary needs on: 020 7420 2111 or email them at: savoy@fairmont.com

A tea recommended for all that will please the taste buds and will certainly leave you feeling full. Access London recommends Afternoon Tea at The Savoy for Summer 2011.



Please feel free to leave a comment, follow the blog or send us an email at: accesslondon.claire@gmail.com
You can also view more of our videos from many other London highlights and attractions on our channel on YouTube: AccessLondon1

COMING SOON: The Wizard of Oz, Accessible Rooms at The Cavendish, The London Eye and Access London celebrates Phantom of the Opera's 25th Birthday with some fantastic surprise interviews!

The Petrichor Restaurant @ The Cavendish Hotel

For those regular readers of Access London, you will already know about my series of posts on our recommended hotel for 2011 - The Cavendish. If this is your first visit to the blog, you can find out more about The Cavendish in our previous posts.

Today's post focuses on the AA Rosette restaurant at The Cavendish - The Petrichor Restaruant. It also includes an interview with Petrichor's Head Chef, Nitin Padwal.

I have been lucky enough to have dined twice at Petrichor - once for their evening A La Carte menu and the other to take advantage of their Pre-Theatre dinner menu.

Petrichor is located on the first floor of The Cavendish Hotel. If you are in a wheelchair or use a mobility scooter, Petrichor can be accessed by taking one of the lifts to the first floor and then using the restaurant's moveable ramp to get inside. Once on the main restauarnt floor, all of the tables are on the same level.

The restaurant itself is decorated with paintings in the style of Rousseau's jungle paintings. They make a bold yet chic statement on the walls and are a joy to look at. The menu changes bi-monthly but always includes a mouth-watering selection of meat, fish and vegetarian dishes that are presented elegantly and with style. The staff at Petrichor are extremely friendly and helpful and really help to make your evening special.



PETRICHOR Q&A
How would you describe the food and menu served at Petrichor?
Splendid food created with the most seasonal and sustainable ingredients.

Who or what inspires you to create the dishes on your menu?
My Suppliers. I talk to them on a regular basis to understand what's best in season and based on that, we create our bi-monthly menus.



What does the Petrichor do when trying to source and use sustainable ingredients and products? How important is this?
Petrichor has been involved in many sustainable activities over the last year: I took the Food and Beverage Team to visit Wicks Manor Pork Farm in Essex and Garson's Fruit and Vegetable Farm in Surrey (we even picked berries). These trips help us to ensure that our suppliers are providing the most sustainable and environmentally friendly produce. I also organise menu-tasting panels for the Front of House Team to increase their product knowledge.

I think it is particularly important for the business to take these sustainable measures now as I believe in supporting British farmers who are generally more interested in animal welfare and sustainable measures, which in turn results in a better quality product, minimised waste, cost savings and reduced CO2 emissions.



What would your dream 3 course meal be to cook and serve at Petrichor?
There are many dream dishes that we create for our menu. From this bi-monthly menu, I would choose:
STARTER - Wicks Manor creamy smoked ham hock soup with seasonal vegetables.
MAIN - Mildly spiced Scottish cod fillet served with curried potato fritter, baby spinach and creamy coconut sauce
DESSERT - Kent Discovery apple and cranberry crumble with Brandy custard.

Can you sum up in 5 words the Petrichor experience for your diners?
Friendly staff and superb food (I hear that regularly from our customer satisfaction surverys)



Access London would like to say a big thank you to Nitin Padwal for taking the time to answer our questions and to all the restaurant and hotel staff at The Cavendish.

Whether you are looking for a meal with a stylish touch, a pre-theatre dinner to kick off your evening or, celebrate a special occasion, Petrichor is the place to be.

For more information about the current menu, individual requirements and to make a reservation, contact the Petrichor on: 020 7389 3500.

Please feel free to leave a comment and follow the blog.

COMING SOON: The National Gallery and Phantom of the Opera

Interview with The Cavendish Hotel - Disabled Access

Firstly, Thank You to everyone for your continued support of Access London in its promotion for a more accessible city for all.

This is the second in a series of posts on The Cavendish Hotel - Access London's recommended hotel for 2011.

As you may have read in our previous post, The Cavendish Hotel is a luxurious and stylish hotel in a prime location in London (Piccadilly/Mayfair). As well as its luxury and extremely helpful and friendly staff, The Cavendish has also made every effort to make itself accessible to all. Below is an interview with the Business Development Coordinator at The Cavendish on how the hotel is meeting the needs of its guests with disabilities.



THE CAVENDISH Q&A

Who are you and what is your role at The Cavendish?

I am Fabricio Torres and I am the Business Development Coordinator at The Cavendish. I am in charge of all the social media activities for the company as well as the e-marketing (email campaigns), writing blog posts and more.

Can you please explain how The Cavendish is accessible to those with disabilities?

The hotel aims to be completely accessible to persons with physical disabilities. For that reason, we allocate our wheelchair adapted rooms at the time of booking to ensure that our guests will have a smooth experience. Upon arrival everything will be set up to ensure that check-in is easy and trouble-free. Our entrance has electric sliding doors and our reception is 120cm high but we can provide check-in forms on clipboards for those in wheelchairs. The lifts are located just opposite the check-in desk and have easy access from them to the wheelchair adapted rooms. If the guest is not in a wheelchair, we can still allocate rooms near to the lift or on lower floors to accomodate their needs.

In the wheelchair adapted rooms, the doors are wider and the light switches are lower to make things easier. Power sockets are located next to the bed as well as alarm cords for emergencies. All adapted rooms are also inter-connected, meaning that a carer or friend or family member can sleep close by. The fire alarm has a visual as well as audio indication. The rooms can have a double or twin beds as requested and all are en-suite with adapted shower rooms.

The shower rooms are level entry and fitted with horizontal and vertical grab rails and an emergency alarm cord, shower stools are also provided.

In case of assistance needed, guests can always contact the concierge or reception from the room phone and we would be happy to help.

Do you have any concessions available for disabled visitors and/or their carers?

We don't currently have concessions available to our disabled guests. However, all of the adapted rooms are at a discounted rate as they are Superior Rooms that we offer at the price of a Classic Room.

Can you sum up in 5 words The Cavendish experience?

Amazing location and great service!

Access London would like to offer a big Thank You to Fabricio Torres for his time in answering our questions and to all the staff at The Cavendish for a fantastic place to stay. To make a reservation or enquiry at The Cavendish, please call 020 7930 2111.

Please feel free to leave a comment and follow the Access London blog.

COMING SOON: THE PETRICHOR RESTAURANT & PHANTOM OF THE OPERA

Recommended Hotel for 2011 - The Cavendish - Part 1

Hi Everyone. This week is the launch of a series of exciting posts about Access London's recommended hotel for 2011 - The Cavendish.
The Cavendish is located on Jermyn Street and Duke Street in Piccadilly. It is in a prime location for central London attractions such as, restaurants, theatres, galleries, museums and shops - yet once inside, you feel as though you are in an oasis of calm in the middle of the big city.

Some of its nearest attractions are The Royal Academy of Arts, The Criterion Theatre, St James' Park, the prestigious shops of Jermyn and Regent Streets and the world-renowned Fortnum and Masons.

I have been fortunate enough to have stayed at The Cavendish on several occasions and have always enjoyed a fabulous stay. All of the staff are so in tuned to their guest's needs - the porters on arrival, the check-in staff, the concierge team and the restaurant staff. You are made to feel special from the moment you arrive and this continues throughout your stay.


The hotel has its main pick-up/drop-off point and disabled access entrance on Duke Street. On entering, you are met with a fresh and modern reception area that, like most of the other areas in the hotel, has kept its period charm and style. The hotel's lounge is the perfect place to relax after a day's shopping and enjoy afternoon tea. The Cavendish's 'Petrichor' restaurant has been awared with an AA Rosette and is the setting for some of the best food I have tasted in a hotel for a long time. The Petrichor will be the topic of a future post here on Access London.


The Cavendish has several disabled access rooms to stay in which include: walk-in showers, wider doors, lowered sinks, emergency pull cords and many other features you would expect to find in a stylish, adapted room. If you have a disability but are able to step up into a shower and do without the other adapted features mentioned above then, I would definitely recommend a stay in one of the hotel's Executive Rooms, especially if you are there for a special occasion.

The luxurious and stylish Cavendish is the perfect hotel for your stay in London, Pre-Theatre Dinner or afternoon tea. It is extremely accessible and all of the staff are more than happy to help make arrangements for your perfect stay - this is why The Cavendish is Access London's recommended hotel for 2011.

To make a reservation at The Cavendish, please call 020 7930 2111

COMING NEXT: INTERVIEW WITH THE CAVENDISH'S BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT COORDINATOR
COMING SOON: PHANTOM OF THE OPERA/HER MAJESTY'S THEATRE

Festive Afternoon Tea - Lanesborough Hotel

Firstly, I just wanted to wish all readers a very Happy Christmas, wherever you are and whatever you are doing.

To celebrate the Christmas season, this blog is about a festive afternoon tea I enjoyed this week at the Lanesborough Hotel, London. The hotel is located on Hyde Park Corner and is a striking building.

If travelling by car, the doorman are happy to park your car for you at an hourly rate of £6 (pretty good, considering some London parking prices). The doorman are extremely helpful and friendly, including assisting with wheelchairs and scooters. The entrance is level access from the street into the foyer and you are greeted by delightful surroundings and helpful staff inside. At this time of year, fires have been lit and the hotel is decorated in a traditional Victorian style. The video below shows some of the ground floor, decorations and highlights from the tea.

There are accessible toilets, although I would recommend that if you are in a wheelchair, that there be someone to help you open the door as they are very large and heavy (in keeping with the style of the building). The room serving afternoon tea is located on the ground floor and is very spacious in order to accommodate wheelchairs and scooters. The reception and waiting staff are all very attentive, accommodating and friendly. As with most London hotels offering afternoon tea, I would recommend booking well in advance and letting the staff know of any individual requirements, they are very happy to help (including providing for different dietary requirements).

As I went to the Lanesborough for festive afternoon tea, the menu will differ slightly to what is provided all year round. I would however say that the food, choices and selection was one of the best I have experienced in London. The choice of tea is vast and you can choose to accompany it with Champagne. The pastries, cakes, scones and tarts are all magnificent, both in taste and appearance. During the festive afternoon tea there was a pianist playing in the corner, although you would need to check if this is something that happens everyday of the year. The dress code is smart casual and children are most definitely welcome.

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As you can see, the hotel provides an excellent location for a special occasion in town or for the chance to catch up with friends and spend time with family.

Overall, I would definitely recommend The Lanesborough Hotel as somewhere to visit for afternoon tea. For more information, they can be contacted on: 020 7333 7254.

Thank you once again to all readers and I hope you all enjoy a fantastic Christmas and New Year. Up next: Phantom of the Opera and The Cavendish Hotel