Went for a birthday meal in the Ivy Café in Richmond (9-11 Hill St, Richmond TW9 1SX) tonight (11 October 2020).
They have a door on the side at the back through which they provide a ramp for disabled people to enter or exit the restaurant. They also have a disabled toilet at the back.
However, at our arrival they put 4 of us at a table right in front of the disabled Toilet. It would have been impossible for a disabled person especially in a wheelchair or in a buggy to enter or exit this facility without at least two of us moving and pulling our chairs further away to the side. Imagine, we our in the middle of eating our meal and a disabled person wants to use this facility and worst, when they want to come out.
I objected to this arrangement and asked to be moved.
I also noticed there was a table set for six people, next to us right in front of the back access door. Once again it would have been impossible for a disabled person in a wheel chair or in a buggy to enter or leave the restaurant through this “disabled access door” without at least 3 guest moving away and pulling their chairs to the side.
I find this situation irresponsible and totally unacceptable. I strongly object to thoughtlessness of the mangers and those who operate such an establishment. Their decision is purely based on greed and without care and responsibility. They must be held accountable for such an abhorrent decisions and actions.
I raised my concerns with the duty manager. She agreed with me and said that she will report my concerns to her senior manager. I hope she does and they don’t act in such a irresponsible, abhorrent and unacceptable manner.
I informed her that I will be posting my concerns on social media and will bring such objectionable actions to other customers’ attentions.