Coach House restaurant in Brighton: stop unlawfully discriminating against disabled people
- by: Beth Granter
- recipient: Coach House restaurant, United Kingdom
Sign my petition now to demand they apologise, get a ramp, and give their staff equalities training.
I planned to go to Coach House restaurant for my birthday with my family, including my disabled mother. After confirming directly with Coach House that it was fully wheelchair accessible as advertised on TripAdvisor, I booked a table.
When we arrived we were confronted with a huge step making the whole dining area totally inaccessible. I asked for a ramp and was told they did not have one. I suggested they put a table in the empty, accessible, downstairs bar area. They refused. I asked why and was told, "we might get some drinkers in later".
In failing in their "duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people" (Equality Act 2010) they are acting unlawfully. I told them they were choosing to discriminate.
After this, I felt like crying and this totally ruined my birthday. We were left out in the cold and rain with my disabled mother, trying to search for a truly accessible place for dinner on a busy Friday night in Brighton. Horrible.
So please sign my petition to tell Coach House to apologise, get a ramp, and train their staff in the Equality Act 2010. If enough people sign, I plan to deliver the petition with disability rights activists to the restaurant, and to get my local MP, Caroline Lucas involved.
NB:
I tried to report them to the police and was referred to Trading Standards. Trading Standards referred me to Citizens Advice Bureau. CAB referred me to the Equalities Advisory Support Service. EASS suggested I send them a letter and if that fails, take them to court myself. I already emailed Coach House asking when they would get a ramp but they did not respond. Court would cost a lot of money in court fees and hiring a lawyer. The Equalities Act 2010 should not rely on rich people taking businesses to court with their own money in order to enforce it.
Coach House was listed in the 'wheelchair accessible' category on TripAdvisor. I telephoned in advance to double check and they confirmed it was fully wheelchair accessible for an electric wheelchair. They said, "there is one tiny 2" step". If true, this would have been fine. I booked the table in advance. When I arrived, the step was a lot bigger than that. Totally inaccessible for an electric wheelchair even with a kerb climber.
They suggested we lift my mother in her wheelchair over the step, saying "this is what we normally do". This is not an option for my mother in her wheelchair as a jolt could kill her as she has spinal problems, and this requirement, aside from breaking health and safety regulations for staff and customer, makes the restaurant NOT wheelchair accessible. If assistance is needed, to be lifted up a step, it is not accessible.
You can see the step and bar area I'm talking about here. Some people are saying why didn't we sit outside? It was raining and very cold that night, I don't think that's a reasonable suggestion.
Please accept this letter as a formal complaint of discrimination arising from disability and a failure to make a reasonable adjustment by Coach House.
Coach House restaurant ruined my birthday by effectively refusing service to my mother because she needs to use a wheelchair.
I planned to go to Coach House restaurant for my birthday with my family, including my disabled mother. After confirming directly with Coach House via telephone that it was fully electric wheelchair accessible as advertised on TripAdvisor, I booked a table. On the phone the staff member said, "there is one tiny 2" step". If true, this would have been fine. I booked the table in advance.
When I arrived at approx. 7:30pm on [my birthday], the step was much bigger. Totally inaccessible for an electric wheelchair even with a kerb climber.
The two staff members present suggested we lift my mother in her wheelchair over the step, saying "this is what we normally do". This is not a safe option and makes the restaurant NOT wheelchair accessible. If assistance is needed, to be lifted up a step, it is not accessible.
The step makes the whole dining area totally inaccessible. I asked for a ramp and was told they did not have one. I suggested they put a table in the empty, accessible, downstairs bar area. They refused.I asked why and was told, "we might get some drinkers in later".
Effectively my mother received unfavourable treatment – a refusal of service – as a consequence of her disability.
I told the staff they were choosing to discriminate.
After this, I felt like crying and this totally ruined my birthday. We were left out in the cold and rain with my disabled mother, trying to search for a truly accessible place for dinner on a busy Friday night in Brighton. Horrible.
I expect a full apology, for you to get a ramp immediately, and to train your staff in the Equality Act 2010.
The Equality Act 2010 (the Act) states my mother is protected against unlawful discrimination by you as a service provider because of her disability which requires the use of a wheelchair.
Discrimination arising from disability is defined in the Act as:
- Unfavourable treatment, because of something arising in consequence of that person’s disability, and
- It cannot be shown that the treatment is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim (‘objective justification’).
The way in which my mother was treated cannot be objectively justified as reasonable adjustments were not put in place for her.
Under the Equality Act 2010, as a service provider, not only do you have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for an individual who is at a substantial disadvantage at that time due to their disability, you also have to take positive steps to ensure that you anticipate the needs of potential disabled customers before they access your service.
It may be that you:
- Change a provision, criterion or practice
- Change a physical feature, and/or
- Provide an auxiliary aid.
If it is reasonable for you the service provider to make an adjustment, then it must be made. A failure to comply with this duty could be unlawful under the Equality Act 2010.
The adjustment which I consider that you have failed to make is providing a ramp to allow access to the dining area.
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