...to name and shame somewhere for being disablist?

[GrumpyInsomniac]

Went to a hospital appointment yesterday lunchtime. Came out hungry and decided that, since there was a chain nearby that had food I could safely eat (I'm coeliac) I would pop round and grab something before hopping on a bus home.

I got there and found this. Which is a bummer when you're in a wheelchair and your kerb climber won't quite extend to that height of step. I signalled a member of staff and asked whether they had any ramps they could put down - central London, this didn't seem unreasonable. She went and got the branch manager who confirmed they had no ramps but he would escalate to head office.

I asked how that got me my lunch now, and told him a reasonable adjustment under the act would be to offer to take my order and money from the street and bring me my food and my change while I waited. He wouldn't, just kept repeating he'd talk to head office.

Utterly humiliating, for starters, but also just so bloody unfair. Just because I'm in a wheelchair doesn't mean I have less right to buy myself lunch.

So congratulations Wasabi Holborn on discriminating against the disabled. And I hope this can serve as a PSA to other disabled MNers to avoid the place if they happen to be in that area in the future.

Well here's hoping this thread gets picked up by the DM. After all they pounce on everything else.

Which Wasabi was it in Holborn? I work in Holborn and eat Wasabi far too often - I'd like to avoid that branch in future. I know a mini boycott doesn't do much but DDad is in a wheelchair and I don't like to think of supporting the branch belonging to such a manager with that attitude.

Yes it was Holborn, same picture and complaint has been posted to their FB page. Maybe you can go in and ask them about it Scribblegirl , they've ignored the post so far

Awful but sadly not surprised. I was actually amazed how few places were disabled accessible when we were in London recently. We just about managed coz I can lift ds in his chair but someone alone, or an adult in a heavy chair would be stuck.

Bringing it to the door would be the least they could do

I cannot understand why they wouldn't serve you outside? Totally irrational.

Our local bakery is a tiny old building that isn't wide enough for most wheelchairs to get into. They have a number of wheelchair users who use their shop because as they approach a member of staff will always come outside to meet them, discuss their order and bring it out. Not difficult.

I can't find the complaint on the Facebook page - wonder where I should be looking? Tia!

Well done taking a stand, I just tend to stare at step and glance at the staff! I live London about 40% of my local shops have steps nobody cares

In this day and age, and through anti disability discrimination law, awareness of disability discrimination, I would expect a premisis to be wheelchair accessible, either by it being level, or having a ramp.

wasabi sushi & bento at high holborn is what you need to type into FB.

I can't even see why they have to have a step there at all. The square bit in the photo could easily be a gentle slope down to street level. Talk about making life hard for no reason whatsoever.

Oh that's just shite!
I'm sorry you had to experience this.

As a wheelchair user myself OP. I completely understand what you mean. I had a similar situation with a well known restaurant chain where they couldn't accommodate my wheelchair as there was no space. I wasn't the only one to have these issues with them either and doubt I will be the last.

It's 2016 I really do understand how companies are allowed to get away with not providing disabled access.

Agree with Pixel from your photo OP I can't even understand why they have a step instead of the floor sloping down to street level.

user I find that common a lot of restaurants and cafes shove in as many tables as possible without thinking about how people in a wheelchair actually manage to navigate it let alone access a table

On a positive note though we went to Windsor castle last week and they were fantastically accessible - each different section a staff member introduced themselves to us and when we were ready took us "behind the scenes" to lifts to make sure everything could be accessed.

Thanks User1234
It's weird because I can get the page up now, but there are no posts, no photos, nothing.
Either they've cleared the site or my phone is playing up bigtime!

I work in a charity shop we don't have a ramp we asked if we could have a portable ramp but was told no because us carrying it would break health and safety

No its there for sure. You need to click on Wasabi & Bento and it will take you to their page :)

That's not on. Worked in a shop with a high kerb when I was at uni and the first thing they taught us was to go serve disabled customers who couldn't get in at the door.

Only an idiot would complain if they had to wait a tiny bit longer whilst we did it.

I don't like this culture of Facebook shaming. It's better to write to their head office and get it sorted. There could be a reason why he's not allowed to take customers' cash like that. It is negligent to not have an accessible step, and they should resolve it, but I think this post is a bit dramatic.

Unfortunately sometimes the only way a company will deal with something is if you air it publicly.

I have also agreed and given reason why the cashier might not have been able to take the cash etc.

However it may never get fixed - or be fixed more slowly unless it is showing the company in an unfavourable light in public. No individuals are being named or blamed etc. Just the company.

Just because you don't like it doesn't mean it's not more effective. Bad publicity is much more significant to a business than a strongly worded letter (unless that letter comes from a solicitor I suppose).

Social media is the most effective way of getting a company to change.

I'm sorry you had that experience I can't understand why they couldn't serve you at the door. As a coeliac I know how difficult and frustrating it is to try and find somewhere reliably gluten-free, the extra frustration this caused must have been awful. Fingers crossed you get a response from them soon.

Posting on fb also lets other people know that the establishment is not disabilities friendly, which writing to head office alone wouldn't do