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Simpsons Wine Estate

The Barns, Church Lane, Barham, Canterbury, Kent, CT4 6PB

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Access Guide

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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 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 not a bus stop within approximately 150m of the venue.
  • The nearest train station is Snowdown.
  • The venue has its own car park.
  • The car park is located at the front of the branch.
  • The car park type is open air/surface.
  • Parking is free for all users.
  • There is not a/are not designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) available.
  • Clearly marked/signposted parent and child parking bays are not available.
  • The car park surface is loose chippings.
  • The route from the car park to the entrance is accessible to a wheelchair user with assistance.
  • Assistance may be required because there is/are loose chippings.
  • Customers do not have to cross a road between the car park and the branch.
  • The car park does not have a height restriction barrier.
  • Public parking is not available within approximately 200m of the venue.

Outside Access

  • Entrance View
    • This information is for the entrance located in the corner of the building opposite the car park.
    • The entrance area/door is clearly signed.
    • This entrance is signed with 'Simpsons English Wine Estate'.
    • There is step-free access at this entrance.
    • There is not a canopy or recess which provides weather protection at this entrance.
    • There is a dark mat or floor marking at this entrance that might be perceived as a hole.
    • The entrance door(s) does/do 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 76cm.
    • There is a small lip on the threshold of the entrance, with a height of 2cm or below.

Reception

  • Reception View
    • The reception point is located directly ahead as you enter the venue.
    • The reception point is approximately 5m (5yd 1ft) from the entrance.
    • The reception area/desk is clearly visible from the entrance.
    • There is step-free access to the reception point.
    • There is a clear unobstructed route to the reception point.
    • There are no windows, TVs, glazed screens or mirrors behind the reception point which could adversely affect the ability of someone to lip read.
    • The lighting levels at the reception point are moderate to good.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system at the reception point.
    • Signs and universally accepted symbols or pictograms, indicating lifts, stairs, WCs, circulation routes and other parts of the building are not provided in the reception area.
    • The type of flooring in the reception area is carpet.
    • There are mats on the floor that might be perceived as holes.
  • Reception Seating Area View
    • There is a seating area close to the reception point.
    • Access to the seating area is unobstructed.
    • There are coffee tables, stools and sofas available.
    • There is sufficient space for a wheelchair user to use the seating area.

Accessible Toilet(s)

  • There is not an/are not accessible toilet(s) available.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • Standard toilet facilities are available.
  • Toilet Facilities View
    • The shared toilet is located to the left as you enter the reception area.
    • There is step-free access into the toilet(s).
    • The standard toilet(s) is/are approximately 8m from the entrance.
    • The colour contrast between the external toilet door(s) and wall(s) is good.
    • There is pictorial signage on or near the toilet door.
    • An ambulant toilet cubicle is available.
    • There are horizontal wall mounted rails available on both sides of the toilet.
    • The ambulant toilet does not have vertical wall mounted grab rails.
    • The height of the wash basin(s) is 83cm.
    • The wash basin(s) tap type is lever mixer.
    • Lighting levels are good.

Winery Tour

  • Visitors arrive at the ground floor reception area where they enter the winery.
  • The entrance door from the reception area to the winery has a 7cm high at its threshold.
  • The door is 78cm wide and maybe difficult to open.
  • To the right is the Press Barn where events are held.
  • The doorway to the Press Barn is 46cm wide and has a 20cm high step at its threshold.
  • The floor of the winery is composed of painted concrete, is level and in good condition.
  • There are drainage channels along the length of the building.
  • The width between the fermentation tanks is 150cm+.
  • There is a steep concrete ramp of 4.8 degrees without handrails between the winery and the warehouse areas.
  • The floor of the warehouse is composed of unpainted concrete, is level and in good condition.
  • In the final part of the tour, visitors go upstairs to The Glass House Tasting Room for wine tasting.

Other Floors

  • Stairs View
    • Stairs can be used to access other floors.
    • The stairs are for public use.
    • The stairs are located in the reception area.
    • The stairs are approximately 8m from the entrance.
    • The stairs are clearly visible from the entrance.
    • The floors which are accessible by stairs are G, 1.
    • There are 15+ steps between floors.
    • The height of the step(s) is/are between the recommended 15cm and 18cm.
    • The depth of the step(s) is/are not between the recommended 30cm and 45cm.
    • The depth of the steps are 26cm.
    • The steps are clearly marked.
    • There is a/are handrail(s) at the step(s).
    • The steps have a handrail on the right going up.
    • 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 provided on landings.
    • The lighting levels at the steps are low to moderate.
  • Other Information View
    • The service(s) on the floors which are not accessible is/are office space.

Eating and Drinking (The Glasshouse Tasting Room)

  • Location and Access View
    • The following information is for the bar.
    • The bar is located on the second floor.
    • For access there is a single manual door which may be difficult to open.
  • Service and Menus View
    • Staff can bring food and/or drinks to tables.
    • For tasting, guests are served as part of a pre-set wine tasting event and the venue also offers platters for one of the tours, but guests are not able to make orders.
    • There is not a hearing assistance system.
  • Service Counter(s) View
    • The height of the counter is 110cm.
    • There is a moveable card machine available for payment.
    • The type of flooring in this area is laminate.
    • The lighting levels are good.
  • Tables and Seating View
    • There is ample room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre.
    • There are some tables which are accessible to wheelchair users.
    • The standard height for the underside of dining tables is 70cm.
    • The surface height of the lowest table is 40cm.
    • The surface height of the highest table is 115cm.
    • No tables are permanently fixed.
    • Some chairs are permanently fixed.
    • No chairs have armrests on both sides.
    • In this area there are coffee tables, high tables, bench seats, stools and high stools.
    • The type of flooring in this area is carpet.
    • There is some flooring which is shiny and could cause issues with glare or look slippery to some people.
    • The lighting levels are low to moderate.
    • Lighting levels may be lower in the evening.

Vineyard Tour

  • The vineyard is located between Rectory Lane and Roman Road, a 650 metre walk from the winery.
  • Visitors may find the walk to the vineyard on country roads challenging due to steep gradients.
  • Visitors enter the vineyard on Rectory Lane via a gate which opens towards you to a width of 127cm. Visitors may find this gate difficult to open.
  • Visitors who may find the walk difficult can drive to the top gate on Roman Road where the tour commences.
  • Visitors can be driven to this point by prior arrangement with the winery.
  • The vineyard is on a hillside with varying gradients.
  • The distance between vines is approximately 150cm.
  • The ground in the vineyard is a combination of grass and chipped bark and is generally firm.