Access in Summary
Accommodation
There are three accessible rooms available at the hotel which have interconnecting rooms. The rooms have ensuites with bath and shower facilities. Access to the shower is not on level access and therefore unsuitable for wheelchair users.
Car Parking/Drop Off
The is no car park at the hotel, however the hotel does operate a valet service. The drop off point is immediately outside the main entrance and there is also a taxi service which stops outside the main entrance.
Access into Hotel
The hotel is located on Buckingham Gate and can be accessed from the pavement. The hotel is listed end therefore has an original stepped entrance. There is a ramp available however owing to a steep gradient assistance will be required. The entrance consists of a revolving door with a single pass door on either side.
Circulation
Despite the age and historic status of the hotel the majority of services and facilities are on level access. The Zander bar and Bank restaurant have steps, however it is advised that a ramp and staff assistance is available. There is no public lift to the basement health club but assisted access is possible via staff areas. There are few doors around the hotel which are quite heavy. Generally most areas are open plan or have doors which are held open on magnetic devices.
Reception
There is a large reception counter which is the main feature of the hotel lobby. The counter is not accessible and therefore staff will offer assistance on the customer's side of the counter or at one of the nearby seating areas. The concierge is located opposite to reception and again staff are on hand to offer assistance as the counter is not of an accessible height. The reception lobby is bright and spacious and there is a good level of circulation. There is a large area within the lobby offering a range of seating.
Bars
There are two bars at the hotel, Zander Bar which has stepped access from within the reception lobby and from Buckingham Gate, and Hamptons Bar which is on level access from the reception lobby. A ramp is available from concierge for access from the reception lobby to Zander Bar or the Bank Restaurant. Both bars operate a full table service. Hampton's offers a traditional lounge environment and Zander bar has more of a modern feel.
Restaurants
Food can be taken in the Hotel Bar, Hamptons, Bistro 51 which is adjacent to the hotel and on level access from the reception lobby, and Bank Restaurant which is accessible via steps from within the reception lobby. Bistro 51 and Bank also have external entrances with steps. The restaurants are different in style. Hamptons is more traditional and Bistro 51 and Bank have a modern contemporary feel. All restaurants are bright and spacious.
Health Club
Spa 51 is located on the lower ground floor but there are treatment rooms available on the ground floor and accessible from within the hotel. The main entrance to the Spa is via the courtyard. This is a stepped entrance. A step free route to the lower ground is possible with staff assistance through staff areas. Currently the changing rooms are not accessible.
Business Facilities
The hotel has a number of meeting rooms and a business centre located on the ground floor and accessible from the reception lobby. A further larger room is located on the first floor which is primarily used for large events such as luncheons and balls.
Staff: Languages spoken
The hotel has a good compliment of staff available to provide assistance. A number of languages are spoken at the hotel which include: Afrikaans, Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, Czech, Dutch, English, Finnish, French, German, Greek, Hindi, Hungarian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Macedonian, Maltese, Polish, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Slovak, Slovene, Spanish, Swahilli and Turkish. It is advisable to contact the hotel in advance should a specific language be required.