Access Guide
Introduction
- On arrival guests should expect to queue on entry and for all toilet facilities.
- When planning your visit, please read through the Guest Q&A, the centre map showing directional passage and the Guest Code of Conduct, which is under the Guest Services tab on the centres website.
- The centre is working hard to keep guests safe and for more information please click here.
Getting Here
- Gunwharf Quays Car Park is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
The underground car park has 1,526 parking bays and is accessed via Park Road.
Enter Portsmouth on the M275 and follow the brown signs to the Historic Waterfront, and then Gunwharf Quays.
The M275 has links with the A3, A27 and M27.
If you are using a Sat-Nav, please use postcode PO1 3TZ.
An overflow car park for Gunwharf Quays is located on Wickham Street.
The postcode for Wickham Street Car Park is PO1 3EF. - Gunwharf Quays Car Park has 35 Blue Badge bays which are clearly marked blue. The Blue Badge bays are situated next to the lifts, escalators and stairs in G section of the car park.
Parking charges apply for all visitors, including Blue Badge holders.
The overflow car park located on Wickham Street has 12 Blue Badge bays on the ground floor. - For more information on road travel to Gunwharf Quays please click here (opens new tab).
- There is a bus stop within 150 metres of the shopping centre.
- Portsmouth bus routes are covered by two bus operators, Stagecoach and First Bus.
Bus stops are located on the B2154, a few minute's walk from the Vernon Gate entrance to Gunwharf Quays.
Services to the bus stops are bus routes 3, 6, 16, 23, 25 and 700 Coastliner.
The Hard coach and bus station is a few minute's walk from Gunwharf Quays.
Long distance coaches National Express and Megabus operate from the coach station. - For more information on First Group please click here (opens new tab).
- For more information on Stagecoach please click here (opens new tab).
- The nearest railway station is Portsmouth Harbour.
- Portsmouth Harbour Station is approximately 0.4 miles from Gunwharf Quays. There are direct services to and from London Waterloo, London Victoria, Cardiff Central, Basingstoke, Horsham and Brighton.
- For more information on Portsmouth Harbour - National Rail please click here (opens new tab).
- For more information on Southern Railway please click here (opens new tab).
- For more information on GWR please click here (opens new tab).
- For more information on Southwestern Railway please click here (opens new tab).
Getting Help and Assistance
- There is a member of staff available for help and assistance.
- There is not a member of staff trained in British Sign Language.
- British Sign Language interpreters cannot be provided on request.
- There is not an assistance dog toilet or toileting area at the venue/nearby.
- Water bowls for assistance dogs are available.
- There are mobility aids available.
- The mobility aids available include wheelchairs, motorised wheelchairs and mobility scooters.
- To obtain mobility aids please contact 023 9283 6773 for more information.
- The shop mobility scheme is run from the Car Park Office. There are electric scooters, powered wheelchairs and manual wheelchairs available to use. The mobility scheme is limited to use solely within Gunwharf Quays. You will be required to show a form of identification with your address on it when you hire the equipment.
- The Guest Services team have attended Dementia and Autism Awareness training and work alongside Toucan Diversity Training.
Related Access Guides (Gunwharf Quays Parking)
- To view other AccessAble Detailed Access Guides that are related to this one please use the links below.
- Gunwharf Quays - Main Car Park link (new tab) - click here
- Gunwharf Quays - Wickham Street Car Park link (new tab) - click here
- Gunwharf Quays - Car Park - Large Vehicles and Coaches link (new tab) - click here
Outside Access (Neptune Court Entrance)
- This information is for the entrance located on Neptune Court.
- This entrance gives access to The Waterfront and The Plaza.
- The entrance area/door is not clearly signed.
- There is step-free access at this entrance.
- There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
- There are no doors at this entrance.
- The width of the door opening is 110cm.
- There are bollards at this entrance.
- The minimum width between the bollards is 110cm.
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Entrance
View
- The bollards do not have an identification band to aid visually impaired people.
- There is not a member of staff available for assistance at this entrance.
Access to the Waterfront from the Plaza
- Access to the Waterfront from the Plaza is via a very slight slope.
- The surface of the walkway is a combination of block paving and paving slabs.
Access to The Waterfront from The Avenues - Vernon Avenue
- Access to The Waterfront from The Avenues - Vernon Avenue is via a very slight slope.
- The surface of the walkway is a combination of block paving and paving slabs.
Access to The Waterfront from The Avenues - Mercator Avenue
- There is level access to The Waterfront from The Avenues - Mercator Avenue.
- The surface of the walkway is tiles and block paving.
External Area(s) (The Waterfront)
- Digital wayfinders are not available.
- Information posts are provided to aid wayfinding.
- This external area is partially covered.
- The type of flooring in this area is stone and concrete.
- The following types of seating can be found in this area; stone seating and wooden benches.
- There is high colour contrast between the walls and floor in the majority of corridors/walkways.
- Background music is not played in this area.
- There is step free access in this area.
- There is a slight slope next to the Spinnaker Tower, which overcomes the 3 steps to access between the lower and upper areas of the water front.
Accessible Toilet(s) (The Waterfront - Between Subway and Caffe Nero)
- There is an/are accessible toilet(s) for public use.
- The accessible toilet surveyed is not for the sole use of disabled people.
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Location and Access
View
- This accessible toilet is located off The Waterfront, between Subway and Caffe Nero.
- There is step-free access to the accessible toilet.
- Clear wayfinding signage for the toilet(s) is provided.
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Features and Dimensions
View
- This is a shared toilet.
- A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
- There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
- The door opens outwards.
- The door has a closer and maybe difficult for some to open.
- The door is locked by a twist lock.
- The width of the accessible toilet door is 87cm (2ft 10in).
- The door has a horizontal grab rail.
- The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 175cm x 235cm (5ft 9in x 7ft 9in).
- The accessible toilet does have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
- The toilet has a non-slip floor.
- There is a lateral transfer space.
- As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the left.
- The lateral transfer space is 100cm (3ft 3in).
- The transfer space is obstructed by a waste bin.
- There is a flush, however it is not on the transfer side.
- There is not a spatula type lever flush.
- There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
- There is an emergency alarm.
- The emergency pull cord alarm is fully functional.
- There is not a flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
- Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
- There is a/are female sanitary and waste paper pedal bin disposal units.
- There is not a/are not coat hook(s).
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Position of Fixtures
View
- There is a/are wall-mounted grab rail(s) available.
- As you face the toilet the wall-mounted grab rail(s) is/are on both sides.
- There is a vertical wall-mounted grab rail on the transfer side.
- There is a horizontal wall-mounted grab rail on the opposite side of the seat to the transfer space.
- There is a mirror.
- The mirror is not placed at a lower level or at an angle for ease of use.
- There is not a shelf next to the toilet.
- The toilet has a lid.
- There is a toilet roll holder.
- The toilet roll holder can be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The toilet roll holder is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
- There is a wash basin.
- The wash basin can be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
- There are vertical wall-mounted grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
- The wash basin tap type is lever.
- There is a mixer tap.
- Taps have clear markings to indicate hot and cold settings.
- There is a soap dispenser.
- The soap dispenser cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The height of the soap dispenser is 107cm.
- There is not a towel dispenser.
- There is a hand dryer.
- The hand dryer cannot be reached from seated on the toilet.
- The hand dryer is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
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Colour Contrast and Lighting
View
- The contrast between the external door and wall is poor.
- The contrast between the internal door and wall is fair.
- The contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is good.
- The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) to the left of the toilet and wall is fair.
- The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) to the right of the toilet and wall is good.
- The toilet seat colour contrast is poor.
- The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
- The lighting levels are good.
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Opposite Transfer Toilet(s)
View
- There is an opposite transfer toilet in this location.
Standard Toilet(s) (The Waterfront - Between Subway and Caffe Nero)
- Standard toilet facilities are available.
- The female toilet facilities that were surveyed are located off The Waterfront, between Subway and Caffe Nero.
- There is step-free access to the female toilet(s).
- There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
- An ambulant toilet with wall-mounted grab rails is not available.
- There is a lowered wash basin available.
- The height of the lowered wash basin is 72cm.
- There are no vertical wall-mounted grab rails at the lowered wash basin.
- The wash basin(s) tap type is sensor.
- There is not a flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilets.
- Lighting levels are good.
- The male toilet facilities that were surveyed are located off The Waterfront, between Subway and Caffe Nero.
- There is step-free access to the male toilet(s).
- There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
- There is a lowered urinal available.
- The height of the lowered urinal is 50cm.
- There are no vertical wall-mounted grab rails at the lowered urinal.
- The lowered urinal does contrast visually with the wall.
- An ambulant toilet with wall-mounted grab rails is not available.
- There is a lowered wash basin available.
- The height of the lowered wash basin is 71cm.
- There are no vertical wall-mounted grab rails at the lowered wash basin.
- The wash basin(s) tap type is sensor.
- There is not a flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilets.
- Lighting levels are good.
- Baby change facilities are located within the venue.
- Baby change facilities are located in the standard female and male toilets.
- There is step-free access to the baby change facilities.
- The baby change table is not set against the wall, permanently fixed at 75cm from the floor.
- The baby change table is not height adjustable.
- The height of the baby change table once extended is 82cm (2ft 8in).
Parent and Baby Room (The Waterfront - Between Subway and Caffe Nero)
- There is a parent and baby room for public use.
- The parent and baby room is located off The Waterfront, between Subway and Caffe Nero.
- There is step-free access to the parent and baby room.
- Staff do not need to be notified for use of the room.
- There is pictorial signage on or near the parent and baby room door.
- The baby change table is set against the wall, permanently fixed at 75cm from the floor.
- The baby change table is not height adjustable.
- The height of the baby change table once extended is 75cm (2ft 6in).
- There are disposal facilities in the parent and baby room.
- There is a wash basin in the parent and baby room.
- The height of the wash basin is 78cm.
- The wash basin tap type is sensor.
- There is/are not chair(s) in the parent and baby room.
- There is a toilet in the parent and baby room.
- There is not a flashing fire alarm beacon within the room.
- The lighting levels are good.
Other Floors (The Waterfront - Next to Burger King)
- The stairs are located on The Waterfront, next to Burger King.
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are Ground Floor and Level 1.
- There are 15+ steps between floors.
- The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the step(s) is/are 18cm.
- The going of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
- The steps are not clearly marked.
- There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
- The steps have a handrail on both sides.
- Handrails are at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
- Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
- Handrails are easy to grip.
- Handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
- There is a landing.
- Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are not provided on landings.
- The lighting levels at the steps are good.
Lift (The Waterfront - Next to Burger King)
- There is a lift for public use.
- The lift is located on the Waterfront, next to Burger King.
- The lift is a standard lift.
- A member of staff does not need to be notified for use of the lift.
- The floors which are accessible by this lift are Ground and Level 1.
- Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are provided on lift lobby landings.
- There is a clear level manoeuvring space of 150cm × 150cm in front of the lift.
- Lift doors do not contrast visually with lift lobby walls.
- The external controls for the lift are within 90cm - 110cm from the floor.
- The colour contrast between the external lift controls and the control plate is medium.
- The colour contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is low.
- The clear door width is 80cm (2ft 7in).
- The dimensions of the lift are 100cm x 137cm (3ft 3in x 4ft 6in).
- There are no separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
- There is not a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
- There is not a list of floor services available within the lift.
- The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
- The lift does have an audible announcer.
- The controls for the lift are within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
- There is not a hearing loop system.
- The lift does have Braille markings.
- The lift does have tactile markings.
- The lighting levels in the lift are good.
Other Floors (Car Park - The Waterfront)
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Stairs
View
- The stairs are for public use.
- The stairs are located at the rear of the car park on level UB.
- Signs indicating the location of the stairs are not available from the entrance.
- There are manual, single doors which may be difficult to open to enter and exit the stairwell on all floors.
- The floors which are accessible by stairs are UB, G, 1 and 2.
- There are 15+ steps between floors.
- The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
- The height of the step(s) is/are 15cm.
- The going of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
- The steps are not clearly marked.
- There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
- The steps have a handrail on both sides.
- Handrails are at the recommended height (90cm-100cm).
- Handrails do cover the flight of stairs throughout its length.
- Handrails are easy to grip.
- Handrails do not extend horizontally beyond the first and last steps.
- There is a landing.
- Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are not provided on landings.
- The lighting levels at the steps are varied.
Lift (Car Park - The Waterfront)
- There is a lift for public use.
- The lift is located at the rear of the car park on level UB.
- Signs indicating the location of the lift are not available from the entrance.
- The lift is a standard lift.
- A member of staff does not need to be notified for use of the lift.
- The floors which are accessible by this lift are UB (Car Park) - G (Shops and Restaurants) - 1 (Tiger Tiger) - 2 (24/7 Club).
- There are manual, single doors which may be difficult to open to access the lift lobby on all floors.
- Clear signs indicating the facilities on each floor are not provided on lift lobby landings.
- There is a clear level manoeuvring space of 150cm × 150cm in front of the lift.
- Lift doors do contrast visually with lift lobby walls.
- The external controls for the lift are not within 90cm - 110cm from the floor.
- The colour contrast between the external lift controls and the control plate is medium.
- The colour contrast between the external lift control plate and the wall is High.
- The clear door width is 80cm (2ft 7in).
- The dimensions of the lift are 100cm x 140cm (3ft 3in x 4ft 7in).
- There are no separate entry and exit doors in the lift.
- There is a mirror to aid reversing out of the lift.
- There is a list of floor services available within the lift.
- The lift does have a visual floor indicator.
- The lift does have an audible announcer.
- The internal controls for the lift are not within 90cm - 120cm from the floor.
- The internal controls for the lift are within 112cm - 127cm from the floor.
- There is not a hearing loop system.
- The lift does not have Braille markings.
- The lift does not have tactile markings.
- The lighting levels in the lift are low to moderate.
External Area(s) (Waterfront - First Floor)
- Digital wayfinders are not available.
- Information posts are provided to aid wayfinding.
- This external area is partially covered.
- The type of flooring in this area is wood.
- There is some flooring with a very shiny finish which could cause issues with glare or be perceived as slippery.
- There is high colour contrast between the walls and floor in the majority of corridors/walkways.
- Background music is not played in this area.
- There is step free access in this area.
Related Access Guides (Gunwharf Quays)
- Gunwharf Quays - Centre Management link (new tab) - click here
- Gunwharf Quays - Guest Services link (new tab) - click here
- Gunwharf Quays - Parking and Information Office - Shopmobility link (new tab) - click here
- Gunwharf Quays - Plaza link (new tab) - click here
- Gunwharf Quays - The Avenues - Ground Floor link (new tab) - click here