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Dining Hall

Sidney Sussex College, Sidney Street, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, CB2 3HU

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Access Guide

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Getting To and Around Sidney Sussex College

  • Arriving By Car or Bike View
    • Sidney Sussex College is situated on the north eastern edge of Cambridge city centre. The vehicle entrance to the site is located in King Street. There are various Park and Ride schemes for people who would prefer to not drive into central Cambridge.
    • Sidney Sussex College has limited on-site car parking, and so is only available to staff and visitors if requested in advance. The only parking area is located off King Street, to the side of Blundell Court. Students are generally not permitted to use cars in the immediate locality unless given permission based on specific requirements.
    • Cycling is a popular form of transport in Cambridge. The city is relatively flat and there is an extensive network of cycle routes. At Sidney Sussex College the main sheltered cycle park is located off Hall Court. There are other bike stands available throughout the College site.
    • For more information on getting to Sidney Sussex College please click here (opens new tab)
    • For more information on cycle routes and maps in Cambridge please click here (opens new tab).
  • By Bus View
    • There is a bus stop within 150 metres of the campus.
    • The nearest bus stop to the College is on Jesus Lane, on the north west edge of the College site, close to the junction with Sidney Street. This is served by the A busway service towards St Ives. There are also bus stops further up Bridge Street, just over 150 metres from the main entrance to the College. The buses to and from the Madingley Road Park and Ride stop here, along with the 5 citi and 6 citi services to the bus station. There is another bus stop a similar distance from the College but in the opposite direction, on Hobson Street outside Christ’s College. The bus services that stop here include 1 citi, 2 citi, 3 citi, 5 citi, 6 citi, 8 citi and 8H Histon Road Shuttle. These services give direct links to Arbury, Chesterton, the bus station, Fen Ditton, Bar Hill, Swavesey, Cotterham and Orchard Park. The bus station in Drummer Street is approximately 500 metres away from Sidney Sussex College.
    • Cambridge City Centre Bus Station AccessAble Access Guide (new tab) - click here.
    • For more information on planning a bus journey in Cambridge please click here (opens new tab).
  • By Train View
  • Accessing the College Site View
    • The main pedestrian entrance to the College site is located on Sidney Street. Access is via 2 unmarked steps, 15 and 12cm high with no handrails and a single gate 57cm wide (Photographs 1 and 2). The gate opens away from you (push) and may be difficult for some to open. This entrance can be made wider if required by opening one or both main gates (Photograph 3). This entrance leads to the Porter’s' Lodge, Hall Court and Chapel Court.
    • Pedestrians can also access the site via the main delivery gates, further along Sidney Street to the right as you face the main pedestrian entrance (Photograph 4). The main gates are open in the morning until 10am only. After that, those with keys can access through the small gate within the main gates, 52cm wide with a 30cm high threshold and opening away from you (push). This gate may be difficult for some to open (Photograph 5). Beyond this is a long slight slope leading up to Staff Court (Photograph 6).
    • Key card holders can also access the site via a pedestrian gate within the main gate at the vehicle entrance on King Street (Photograph 7). The gate is single, opens away from you (push) and may be difficult for some to open. The height of the card reader is 108cm, the opening width of the gateway is 80cm with an 8cm threshold. The whole gate slides open to allow vehicle access, and this can also be used to access without the threshold.
  • Getting Around the College Site View
    • If you have accessed the College site by vehicle or via King Street there is step-free access to the network of external paths around the courts and main parts of the site. At the end of the path leading from the car park there are bollards, leaving gaps between 85 – 120cm wide (Photograph 8). There is then a steep slope leading up between the Mong Building and the Garden Court Building (Photograph 9). From here, there is a cut through between the Mong Building and Master’s Lodge to Chapel Court (Photograph 10). There are cut throughs from here to Staff Court on one side (Photographs 11 and 12) and the Porters' Lodge and Hall Court on the other (Photographs 13 and 14), continuing to Cloister Court after that (Photograph 15). The site is mostly level with paths with paving slab and concrete tile surfaces, so can be uneven in places. The paths also have slight gradients in places, particularly around the cut throughs between courts (Photograph 16). The paths around Hall and Chapel Courts have cobbles on either side (Photographs 17 and 18). At the end of the Cloister Court path, next to the entrance to the Fellows’ Garden, there is an unmarked step, 11cm high, with no handrails (Photograph 19). This can be overcome using the path that runs straight ahead from the cut through from Hall Court to the Fellows’ Garden. This path is 90cm wide and has a slight slope just beyond the cut through but then levels out (Photographs 20 and 21).
    • There is stepped access to the Covered Walkway (Photograph 22), which runs to the left past the Garden Court Building past the steep slope. The 13 unmarked steps have a handrail on the left hand side going down covering the bottom 5 steps only (Photograph 23). At the far end of the walkway there are 3 steps with handrails both sides leading up to the Sidney Bar (Photograph 24). There are also 15+ steps with no handrails leading up to Blundell Court (Photograph 25).
    • There are 15+ steps with handrails leading up from Staff Court and the area to the rear of the Garden Court Building and the Mong Building (Photograph 26) which lead up to South Court. From there Hobson Court, Montagu House and 26 Sussex Street can be accessed. There is also a bridge leading to Sussex House. Sussex has its own entrance off Hobson Street.
  • Additional College Site Information View
    • Many of the buildings at Sidney Sussex College have step-free access into them. However, most have internal steps that cannot be overcome step-free. Lifts are available in the Garden Court Building, Blundell Court and Sussex House.
    • There is clear directional signage around the site (Photographs 27 and 28) which means those unfamiliar with the layout will still be able to find their way to most of the key College areas and buildings. Site maps are also available from the Porters' Lodge. Accessible toilet facilities are located just inside the Mong Building, by the Dining Hall, and off Staff Court.

Useful Information

Site/Campus Car Park (King Street Car Park)

  • Car Park View
    • The car park is located off King Street.
    • The nearest building(s) to this car park is/are Blundell Court, Sidney Bar, Garden Court.
    • The car park type is open air/surface.
    • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
    • The car park surface is tarmac.
    • Designated Blue Badge parking bays are not available.
  • Charges and Restrictions View
    • This car park can be used by staff and visitors.
  • Drop Off Point View
    • There is not a designated drop off point in this car park.
  • Car Park Access View
    • There is step free access from this car park.
    • Buildings are not clearly signposted from this car park.
    • There is not a campus map available within the car park.
    • Visitor parking is only available here if requested in advance. At the time of the survey many of the parking bays were not in use due to building work. Photograph 4 shows the vehicle entrance into the car park from King Street.

Getting To (The Dining Hall)

  • Location View
    • The Dining Hall is located off Hall Court, which is to the left of the Porters' Lodge entrance. The entrance doors are central to the building, directly ahead of the green in the centre of the court.
    • The Dining Hall can be accessed by the entrance doors off Hall Court, up a via a slight permanent slope. The Dining Hall is then on the left after the second set of entrance doors. The doors leading into the building from the Master's Garden are locked and not used as a primary access point.
    • There is not wayfinding signage along the route to the Dining Hall.
    • Other services / Facilities within the building include; The Old Kitchen (dining and servery) in the Master's Lodge.
    • Sidney Sussex College Site Guide link (new tab) - click here.
    • The Old Kitchen link (new tab) - click here.

Outside Access (Hall Court Entrance)

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located directly off Hall Court.
    • This entrance gives access to the Dining Hall and the Old Kitchen.
    • The entrance area/door is not clearly signed.
    • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
    • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The entrance door(s) does/do contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • The main door(s) open(s) towards you (pull).
    • The door(s) is/are double width.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 150cm.
    • There is a second set of doors.
    • The door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is/are double width but one door is locked.
    • The door(s) is/are heavy.
    • The width of the door opening is 58cm.
    • The second set of doors also has a iron gate in front of it which can be permanently held open. There is a row of portable coat hangers between the first and second door for guests.
  • Ramp/Slope View
    • The ramp/slope is located in front of the first and second set of doors.
    • The gradient of the ramp/slope is slight.
    • The ramp/slope is permanent.
    • There is not a level landing at the top of the ramp/slope.
    • The lighting levels at the ramp/slope are good.

Inside Access (Corridor Leading from the Entrance)

  • Access and Circulation View
    • There is step-free access throughout the area.
    • The type of flooring is stone.
    • There is some flooring which includes patterns or colours which could be confusing or look like steps or holes to some people.
    • There is some flooring which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
    • There is high colour contrast between the walls and floor.
    • The lighting levels are moderate to good.
  • Signage View
    • Wayfinding signage is not provided.
    • Dementia friendly signage is not provided.
  • Safe Place(s) View
    • There is not a designated place of safety which can be used by people with dementia, autism or learning disabilities.
  • Audio View
    • This venue does not play background music/sound.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Comments View
    • The Dining Hall is on the left and the Old Kitchen is on the right.

Eating and Drinking (Dining Hall)

  • Location and Access View
    • The following information is for the refectory.
    • The refectory is located on the ground floor of the building, to the left-hand side of the corridor.
    • There is step-free access to the refectory.
    • For access there is a single manual door which is permanently held open.
    • The door width is 89cm. The door has a metal gate which is also permanently held open (Photograph 1 and 2).
  • Service and Menus View
    • There is full table service.
  • Tables and Seating View
    • There is not ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
    • There are some tables which are accessible to wheelchair users.
    • The distance between the floor and the underside of the highest dining table is 74cm.
    • The standard height for the underside of dining tables is 64cm.
    • No tables are permanently fixed.
    • No chairs are permanently fixed.
    • No chairs have armrests on both sides.
    • The type of flooring in this area is wood.
    • There is some flooring which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • Lighting levels can be adjusted by a member of staff upon request.
    • There are two pillars on entering the Dining Hall with a width of 160cm between them, and a width of 85cm on either side (Photograph 3). The table directly ahead of the entrance narrows the access to the left to 70cm between the table and the pillar, and 75cm to the right (Photographs 4 and 5). There is a step within the room before the head table. There is a table on the left as you enter which has 62cm space underneath and is 74cm high (Photograph 10). Lighting levels are adjustable. There is a separate staircase in the room next door with 15+ steps to the higher level of Dining Hall, which is currently not used. The staircase is narrow (61cm in places), with the steps being 18cm high and the tread being 24cm (Photographs 11-13).

Step(s) (Top / Head Table and Fire Exit)

  • Stepped Level Change 1 View
    • There is a/are step(s) located towards the rear of the Dining Hall.
    • The step(s) is/are used to access the top / head table and fire exit.
    • There is/are 1 step(s).
    • The step(s) is/are not clearly marked.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are not between 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 12cm.
    • There is not a/are not handrail(s) at the step(s).

Accessible Toilet(s)

  • There is not an/are not accessible toilet(s) available.
  • The nearest accessible toilet(s) is/are located in the William M W Mong Building.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Standard toilet facilities are not available.
  • The nearest standard toilet(s) is/are located in the William M W Mong Building.