The Club is not suitable for wheelchair users, for those who are unable to manage steep or narrow stairs unaided, or for those for whom uneven surfaces present a significant risk. We ask that members consider this carefully before bringing guests to the Club.
 

2. Legal Context and Our Obligations

The Equality Act 2010 requires service providers to make reasonable adjustments to avoid placing disabled people at a substantial disadvantage. What constitutes a "reasonable" adjustment depends on the circumstances, including the nature of the premises and the proportionality of the proposed change.

 

In the case of Brydges Place Club the following factors are relevant to the assessment of what is reasonably practicable:

• The building is historic and dates back to the 15th century. Structural alterations that would affect the character or fabric of the building, including the installation of a lift, ramp, or widened doorways, require building consent which the relevant authorities have confirmed cannot be granted for alterations of this nature.

• The alleyway approach is not within the Club's ownership or control. We cannot alter the public highway or the shared approach to the building.

• The layout, staircase dimensions, ceiling heights, and room configurations are intrinsic features of the historic structure and cannot be changed without materially altering the character of the building.

 

We take our obligations under the Equality Act seriously and do not use our histotic status as a blanket excuse to avoid making any adjustments. We have identified and implemented a range of non-structural measures, described in Section 3 below, that fall within what is reasonably practicable for us to do.

 

We keep our accessibility arrangements under regular review and will implement any further reasonable adjustments that become available to us as guidance, technology, or our circumstances change.

 

3. Adjustments and Measures We Have in Place

While structural alterations are not possible, we have implemented the following measures to support members and guests with a range of accessibility needs:
 

Physical Assistance and Staffing

• Staff are trained to offer discreet and respectful physical assistance to members and guests navigating the stairs and any challenging areas of the building.

• Members or guests who require additional time or support when moving through the building are encouraged to ask any member of staff. We will always accommodate reasonable requests for assistance without drawing undue attention.

• We can arrange for a member of staff to meet a member or guest at the entrance to assist from the point of arrival.
   

Advance Planning and Communication

• Members who contact us in advance to discuss accessibility needs will receive a personal response from the Club Manager or a senior team member. We will share as much detail as we are able about the specific layout of the areas to be used on the day of a visit.

• Where a member advises us in advance of a guest's mobility limitations, we will consider which areas of the Club are most suitable for the booking and allocate accordingly, where flexibility exists.

• For event bookings, we will advise members at the time of booking of the specific floor or area in which the event is to be held so that an informed decision can be made before confirming a place.
   

Seating and Comfort

• We offer a range of seating styles throughout the Club, including upright chairs with armrests that may be easier for some guests to use. Please let us know in advance if a particular type of seating would be helpful and we will do our best to accommodate the request.

• Reservations for members or guests who find sustained standing difficult will be managed so that they are seated promptly on arrival.
   

Hearing and Communication

• Staff are available to communicate clearly and at a pace that suits each guest. Members whose guests have hearing impairments are encouraged to advise us in advance so that we may brief the relevant team members.

• Menus and event programmes are available in larger print formats on request. Please give at least 48 hours' notice where possible.
   

Visual Impairment

• Members are welcome to be accompanied by a registered guide dog. Please advise us in advance so that we can make appropriate arrangements for the comfort of the dog and other guests.

• Staff will provide verbal orientation support to guests with visual impairments to help them navigate the Club safely.
   

Dietary and Medical Needs

• Dietary requirements, including those arising from medical conditions, are accommodated in our kitchen wherever possible. Please advise us at the time of booking or as early as possible before the visit.

 

4. Member Responsibility for Guests

Membership of Brydges Place Club carries with it a responsibility of care towards the guests a member invites to the Club. This responsibility is particularly important given the physical limitations of our premises.

 

Before inviting a guest to Brydges Place Club members are required to make their own assessment of whether their guest is physically able to navigate the building safely and comfortably. This is a condition of membership and of the booking terms that apply to all reservations and event bookings.

 

In practical terms, members should consider the following before confirming a guest booking:

• Whether the guest is able to climb and descend steep, narrow stairs without significant difficulty or risk;

• Whether the guest uses a wheelchair, walking frame, or any other mobility aid that cannot be accommodated on the Club's staircases or within its tight interior spaces;

• Whether the guest has any medical condition that may be adversely affected by the physical demands of navigating the building, including respiratory or cardiovascular conditions that may be exacerbated by stair climbing;

• Whether the guest has previously visited the Club and is familiar with its layout, or whether they are visiting for the first time and may find the environment more challenging than anticipated;

• Whether the approach along the alleyway, with its uneven cobblestone surface, poses a risk to the guest's safe arrival.

 

Members are encouraged to share this Accessibility Policy with guests before their visit so that guests can make their own informed decision about whether to attend. Where there is any doubt, members are urged to contact the Club team in advance to discuss the specific circumstances.

 

The Club will not be liable for any injury, accident, or distress arising from a guest's inability to navigate the premises where the member has not made a prior assessment of the guest's physical capability and, where appropriate, taken advice from the Club team before the visit.

 

This does not diminish the Club's own duty of care to all persons on the premises, which we take seriously and fulfil through staff training, risk assessment, and the measures described in Section 3. It is a recognition that members are best placed to know the capabilities and needs of their own guests.

 

5. Prospective Members

We welcome enquiries from prospective members of all backgrounds. We are transparent about the physical limitations of our premises and encourage anyone with mobility or accessibility concerns to visit the Club informally before committing to membership, so that they can assess the building for themselves.

 

Prospective members who would like a guided walkthrough of the premises to assess accessibility are invited to contact the Club Manager. We are happy to arrange this at a mutually convenient time, outside of busy dining or event periods.

 

We would rather a prospective member visit and decide that the Club is not the right fit for their physical needs than join and find the premises difficult or distressing to use. Our commitment to honesty is as important as our commitment to welcome.

 

6. Emergency Evacuation

The Club has a fire safety and emergency evacuation procedure that is reviewed and updated regularly in line with applicable legislation. Given that the premises are multi-storey and connected only by stairs, the emergency procedures include specific provision for persons who may require assistance to evacuate.

 

Members who advise us in advance that they or their guests may need evacuation assistance will have this recorded and communicated to the relevant staff member on duty during their visit. We encourage members to notify us of any such requirement at the time of booking.

 

All staff receive regular fire safety training that includes personal emergency evacuation plan (PEEP) awareness. The Club maintains a current fire risk assessment that takes account of the physical characteristics of the building and the needs of its occupants.

 

In the event of an emergency, guests are asked to follow the instructions of staff calmly. Staff will prioritise assistance to any person who requires it.

 

7. Website Accessibility

Our website is hosted on the Wix platform. We are committed to making our website as accessible as possible to all users, including those with visual, auditory, motor, or cognitive impairments.

 

We aim to meet the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 at Level AA to the extent that this is practicable within the constraints of the Wix hosting platform. Specific measures we have taken or aim to take include:

• Using clear, plain language throughout the website;

• Ensuring sufficient colour contrast between text and background;

• Providing text alternatives for non-text content where possible;

• Ensuring that navigation is consistent and clearly structured;

• Ensuring that the website can be navigated using a keyboard alone.

 

Wix's platform-level accessibility features and any limitations thereof are governed by Wix. We encourage users who experience difficulties with the website to contact us directly so that information can be provided in an alternative format.

 

If you find any aspect of our website inaccessible or have suggestions for improvement, please contact us using the details in Section 8.

 

8. Feedback, Assistance and Contact

We welcome feedback on our accessibility provision. If you have experienced a difficulty at the Club or on our website, or if you have a suggestion for how we could better support members or guests with accessibility needs, please let us know.

 

We are also happy to discuss any specific accessibility requirements in advance of a visit and to answer any questions about the physical layout of the Club.

 

Please contact us at:

Brydges Place Club

3 Brydges Place, London, WC2N 4HP

info@brydgesplace.com

Tel: 0207 240 7659

 

We aim to respond to all accessibility-related enquiries within 5 business days.

 

9. Policy Review

This Accessibility Policy is reviewed annually by the Club management and updated as required to reflect any changes in legislation, guidance, our physical premises, or the measures we have in place. The date of the most recent review is shown at the top of this document.

 

We remain open to advice from accessibility specialists and disability organisations, and will consider any recommendations for improvement that fall within what is reasonably practicable for us to implement given the constraints of our listed building.