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Maidstone Distillery

5 Market Buildings, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1HP

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About this venue

This is a working distillery with a bar and shop operating distillery tours, cocktail classes, bespoke events and guided gin making experiences.

Access Guide

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Getting Here

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.
  • There is not an assistance dog toilet or toileting area at the venue/nearby.
  • Water bowls for assistance dogs are available.
  • There are not mobility aids available.
  • There is not a designated place of safety which can be used by people who may feel scared or at risk.

Public Transport and Parking

  • There is a bus stop within approximately 150m of the venue.
  • The nearest train station is Maidstone East.
  • The venue does not have its own car park.
  • Public parking is available within approximately 200m of the venue.
  • The public parking facilities located close to the venue include: Fremlin Walk Car Park.

Approach

  • Approach View
    • The surface of the approach is stone/concrete tiles.
    • The barriers do not contrast visually with the paving.
  • Step(s) View
    • There is a/are step(s) on the approach.
    • There is/are 1 clearly marked step(s), with no handrails.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are 9cm.
    • The step is situated between the road and the pathway approach to Market Buildings.
      The step can be bypassed by accessing the pathway at either end of Market Buildings where it joins High Street or Earl Street.

Outside Access

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located at the front of the venue.
    • The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
    • This entrance is signed with 'Maidstone Distillery'.
    • There is step-free access at this entrance.
    • There is a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • The entrance door(s) does not/do not contrast visually with its immediate surroundings.
    • There is not a bell/buzzer.
    • There is not an intercom.
    • The main door(s) open(s) away from you (push).
    • The door(s) is/are double width but one door is locked.
    • The door(s) may be difficult to open.
    • The width of the opening is 80cm.
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.

Getting Around

  • Access View
    • There is step-free access throughout the building.
  • Circulation View
    • There are not doors in corridors/walkways which have to be opened manually.
    • The type of flooring in corridors/walkways is tiles, stone and wood.
    • There is some flooring in corridors/walkways which includes patterns or colours which could be confusing or look like steps or holes to some people.
    • There is some flooring in corridors/walkways which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
    • Handrails with a rounded or oval profile are not provided in corridors/walkways.
    • There is good colour contrast between the walls and floor in all areas.
    • There is a mixture of seating with and without armrests at regular intervals.
    • The lighting levels are varied.
  • 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 in public areas.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system in the public areas of the building.

Shop

  • The majority of aisle widths are 150cm+.
  • The type of flooring is stone.
  • There is flooring which includes patterns or colours which could be confusing or look like steps or holes to some people.
  • There is good colour contrast between the walls and floor in all areas.
  • The lighting levels are varied.
  • Music is played in some areas.
  • There are hand sanitisers.
  • The height of the hand sanitiser(s) is/are 92cm.
  • The till(s) is/are located on the right as you enter the venue.
  • There is step-free access to the till(s).
  • There is a clear unobstructed route to the till(s).
  • The till(s) is/are not clearly signed.
  • There are no windows, TVs, glazed screens or mirrors at/behind the till(s).
  • The till(s) is not/are not placed in front of a plain background.
  • The lighting levels at the till(s) are low to moderate.
  • The chip & pin card machines are accessible from the till(s).
  • The height of the till(s) is/are 122cm.
  • There is not a lowered section at the till(s).
  • There is not a hearing assistance system at the till(s).

Eating and Drinking (Bishop's Bar)

  • Location and Access View
    • The following information is for the bar.
    • The bar is located directly ahead as you enter the venue.
    • There is step-free access to the bar.
  • Service and Menus View
    • Tables cannot be booked in advance.
    • There is a bar where drinks can be ordered.
    • Staff can bring food and/or drinks to tables.
    • Menu types include: handheld menus, online menus and menu boards.
    • Menus are clearly written.
    • Menus are presented in contrasting colours.
    • Staff can read menus to customers if requested.
    • Drinking straws are available.
    • This area does play background music.
    • Background music is played at all times.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system .
  • Service Counter(s) View
    • The height of the counter is 122cm.
    • There is a moveable card machine available for payment.
    • The type of flooring in this area is stone.
    • The lighting levels are good.
  • Tables and Seating View
    • There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
    • The majority of tables are accessible to wheelchair users.
    • The height between the floor and the underside of the lowest dining table is 71cm.
    • The distance between the floor and the underside of the highest dining table is 73cm.
    • The surface height of the lowest table is 46cm.
    • The surface height of the highest table is 102cm.
    • No tables are permanently fixed.
    • No chairs are permanently fixed.
    • Some chairs have armrests on both sides.
    • In this area there are coffee tables, high tables, sofas and high stools.
    • The type of flooring in this area is stone.
    • There is flooring which includes patterns or colours which could be confusing or look like steps or holes to some people.
    • The lighting levels are low to moderate.
    • Lighting levels may be lower in the evening.

Tour

  • The distillery hosts tours and experiences.
  • Customers for the distillery experience report to the bar / shop counter.
  • The tours are conducted at the rear of the venue in the distillery and the experience room.
  • The flooring consists of stone and wood laminate and is all on one level.
  • There is a raised lip between the two areas of flooring in front of the accessible toilet which is less than 2cm.
  • The aisles are 150cm+ wide.
  • The doorway into the experience room has a width of 82cm.
  • The experience room consists of a long fixed high table and stools.
  • The table is 102cm high.
  • There is a lower table section with a height of 72cm.

Accessible Toilet(s) (Left Hand Transfer)

  • There is an/are accessible toilet(s) available.
  • Location and Access View
    • This accessible toilet is located at the rear of the venue.
    • This accessible toilet is approximately 20m (21yd 2ft) from the entrance.
    • There is step-free access into the accessible toilet.
    • This is a shared toilet.
    • A key is not required for the accessible toilet.
    • There is no signage on or near the toilet door.
    • The contrast between the external door and wall is poor.
    • The door opens outwards.
    • The door is easy to open.
    • The door is locked by a locking handle.
    • The width of the accessible toilet opening is 80cm (2ft 7in).
    • The contrast between the internal door and wall is good.
    • The door has a horizontal grab rail.
    • The contrast between the horizontal grab rail and internal door is poor.
  • Toilet Features View
    • The dimensions of the accessible toilet are 148cm x 224cm (4ft 10in x 7ft 4in).
    • The accessible toilet does not have an unobstructed minimum turning space of 150cm x 150cm.
    • The lighting levels are good.
    • There is a lateral transfer space.
    • As you face the toilet pan the transfer space is on the left.
    • The lateral transfer space is 79cm (2ft 7in).
    • The transfer space is obstructed by a waste disposal bin.
    • There is a flush, however it is not on the transfer side.
    • There is a spatula type lever flush.
    • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
    • The contrast between the dropdown rail(s) and wall is good.
    • 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.
    • The contrast between the wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is good.
    • The contrast between the walls and floor is good.
    • There is an emergency alarm.
    • The emergency pull cord alarm is fully functional.
    • There is not a red flashing fire alarm beacon within the toilet.
    • Disposal facilities are available in the toilet.
    • There is a/are general waste (with lid) disposal units.
    • There is a/are coat hook(s).
    • There are coat hooks in the toilet at 100cm and 168cm from the floor.
  • Additional Fixtures View
    • 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 within the accessible toilet.
    • The toilet has a cistern.
    • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm (1ft 7in).
    • The toilet seat colour contrast is poor.
    • 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).
    • The height of the toilet roll holder is 80cm (2ft 7in).
    • The contrast between the toilet roll holder and the wall is good.
    • There is a wash basin.
    • The wash basin and tap(s) can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The wash basin is not placed higher than 74cm (2ft 5in).
    • The height of the wash basin is 73cm (2ft 5in).
    • There are vertical wall-mounted grab rails on both sides of the wash basin.
    • The contrast between the wash basin wall-mounted grab rail(s) and wall is good.
    • The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
    • There is a wall fixed soap dispenser.
    • The soap dispenser can be reached from seated on the toilet.
    • The height of the soap dispenser is 85cm.
    • There is not a towel dispenser.
    • There is a hand dryer.
    • The hand dryer is not placed higher than 100cm (3ft 3in).
    • The height of the hand dryer is 89cm (2ft 11in).
    • The contrast between the hand dryer and the wall is good.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Standard toilet facilities are not available.