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The Historic Chatham Dockyard Mess Deck Restaurant

The Historic Chatham Dockyard, Main Gate Road, Chatham, Kent, ME4 4TZ

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Access Guide

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Summary

  • There is onsite parking available here with designated Blue Badge parking.
  • The most accessible entrance has: level step free access and an open entrance with no doors.
  • There is step free access once inside.
  • Toilet and changing facilities available include: an ambulant cubicle, step free standard toilets and accessible toilets.
  • This venue also has the following available: seating.
  • The attractions and services within the Dockyard can only be accessed via the steep ramp at the site entrance.
    The Mess Deck Restaurant is located next to the ticket office/counter and shop by the site entrance.
    The ramped main entrance has to be used to access the restaurant.

Parking (Main Car Park)

  • This venue has a car park .
  • This is an open air car park with a loose chippings and gravel surface.
  • Parking is free for all users.
  • There is not a designated drop-off point.
  • Comments View
    • Photographs 1-4 show the main car park.
    • Photographs 5 and 6 show the step-free or shallow stepped access onto the pavement from the car park.
    • Photograph 7 shows a tarmacked car parking section that is used at times, however, it is further from the entrance.
    • There are Blue Badge bays and electrical vehicle charging bays in the No.5 Slip, to the right of the site entrance and main car park.

Parking (No.5 Slip: Blue Badge Bays and Electric Vehicle Bays)

  • This venue has a car park .
  • This is a sheltered car park with a tarmac and concrete surface.
  • Parking is free for all users.
  • There are 5 Blue Badge parking bays.
  • The dimensions of the designated Blue Badge parking bay(s) surveyed are 225cm x 470cm.
  • There is a hatched zone on both sides and to the rear.
  • The nearest Blue Badge bay is 127m from the site entrance.
  • Potential obstacles between the Blue Badge parking and the entrance include dropped kerbs, uneven surfaces and a road crossing.
  • There is not a designated drop-off point.
  • Comments View
    • Photograph 1 shows the No.5 slip which has the Blue Badge bays and 6 electrical vehicle charging bays within it. This is to the right-hand side from the main car park and site entrance.
    • Access does not have to be pre-arranged.
    • A security barrier and intercom 120cm high are used to access the car park. Staff will open the barriers when requested via this intercom.
    • Photograph 4 shows one of the Blue Badge Bays and photograph 5 shows the electrical vehicle charging bays.
    • Photographs 6-8 show the route to the site entrance.
    • There is a pedestrian crossing which is level with the road one side, with a dropped kerb and tactile paving on the other side.
    • The route consists of tarmac and block paving.

Public Transport

  • There is not a bus stop within approximately 150m of the venue.
  • There is a designated drop-off area for coach tours within 150 metres of the site entrance.
  • The nearest train station is Gillingham.
  • Gillingham Station is approximately 1.9 miles away.

Entrance (The Historic Chatham Dockyard: Site Entrance)

  • There is ramped/sloped access at this entrance.
  • A width of at least 150cm and There is a ramp with a steep gradient .
  • The ramp has handrails on both sides.
  • There is a single automatic door which opens by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 151cm.
  • There is a second set of doors.
  • There is a single automatic door which open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 173cm.

Entrance (Access to the Shop, Exhibit and Mess Deck)

  • There is step-free access at this entrance.
  • There are no doors at this entrance.
  • The width of the opening is 110cm.
  • Comments View
    • On either side of the ticket office / counter there are 5 identical doors.
    • Those which have the cordon tied back can be used to access the Mess Deck, shop and the small exhibit in the area.
    • Once finished in the shop / restaurant / exhibit, visitors can head through one of these doorways and the security barriers by the ticket office towards the first gallery space, the Command of the Oceans.
    • There is signage above a few of the doors (photographs 3 and 4).

Entrance (Mess Deck Restaurant)

  • There is step-free access at this entrance.
  • There are no doors at this entrance.
  • The width of the opening is 332cm.

Eating and Drinking (Mess Deck Restaurant)

  • This is a restaurant which serves hot and cold meals and snacks.
  • There is step-free access.
  • There is staff can provide assistance and a counter where food and drink can be ordered.
  • Menu types include; handheld menus.
  • Menus are easy to read.
  • The following are available here: drinking straws, takeaway cups and a portable card machine for payment.
  • There is background noise here.
  • There is not a low level counter at the recommended height for wheelchair users.
  • The seating area has: room for a wheelchair user and chairs without armrests.
  • The seating area does not have: a priority table.
  • There are some tables which are at a recommended height for wheelchair users.
  • The drink menu is written on the wall, with the food menu only on handheld menus.
    Staff take customers food to their table for them.
    The counter is 96cm high and tables are 75cm high.
    High chairs are available.

Entrance (Exit to Outdoor Seating)

  • There is step-free access at this entrance.
  • There are double manual doors which open away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 115cm.
  • Comments View
    • There are two identical entrances/exits. Both have a dark mat and lip by the threshold.

Eating and Drinking (Outdoor Seating)

  • The seating area has: tables which are accessible to wheelchair users, chairs with armrests and room for a wheelchair user.
  • The seating area does not have: a priority table.
  • The section of seating close to the exit from the Mess Deck has step-free access (photograph 1).
    The section of sheltered seating past this has ramped or stepped access (photographs 2 and 3).

Ramp or Slope and Steps (Access to Raised Sheltered Outdoor Seating Area)

  • A width of at least 150cm and There is a ramp with a steep gradient .
  • The ramp does not have handrails.
  • There are 6 steps.
  • The steps are clearly marked with a handrail on the left.
  • The ramp overcomes the steps.

Accessible Toilet (Mess Deck Restaurant - Left Hand Transfer)

  • There is step-free access into the accessible toilet.
  • There is a manual door which opens inwards and has a high colour contrast.
  • The door has a lever twist lock.
  • The width of the accessible toilet door opening is 86cm.
  • The dimensions of the cubicle are 225cm x 220cm and it has a turning space of at least 150cm x 150cm.
  • There is a lateral transfer space to the left of the seat.
  • The lateral transfer space is 157cm (from the side of the toilet pan to the wall).
  • There is a spatula flush on the transfer side.
  • The following grab rails are available: a horizontal grab rail on the door, vertical grab rails on both sides of the wash basin, a vertical grab rail on the transfer side and a horizontal grab rail on the non transfer side.
  • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
  • The following have a high colour contrast with their surroundings: the dropdown rail, all grab rails and the internal door.
  • The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the toilet seat and the floor.
  • There a pull cord emergency alarm but it is not at a recommended height for a seated user.
  • The cubicle also has: a full length mirror, a nappy/incontinence items bin and a sanitary bin.
  • The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
  • The following fixtures are at the recommended height: the toilet seat, the toilet roll holder, the wash basin, the soap dispenser and hand dryer.
  • The following fixtures are not at a recommended height: the baby changing facility.
  • The following fixtures can be reached from the toilet seat: the toilet roll holder, the wash basin and the soap dispenser.
  • The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: hand dryer.
  • There is a coat hook on the back of the accessible toilet door.

Accessible Toilet (Mess Deck Restaurant - Ambulant Facility within Standard Toilets - No Transfer Space)

  • There is step-free access into the accessible toilet.
  • There is a manual door which opens outwards and has a high colour contrast.
  • The door has a lever twist lock.
  • The width of the accessible toilet door opening is 84cm.
  • The dimensions of the cubicle are 125cm x 174cm and it does not have a 150cm x 150cm turning space.
  • There is not a lateral transfer space next to the seat.
  • There is a spatula flush on the right, but there is no transfer space.
  • The following grab rails are available: a horizontal grab rail on the door, a vertical grab rail on the transfer side, vertical grab rails on both sides of the wash basin and a horizontal grab rail on the non transfer side.
  • There is a dropdown rail on the transfer side.
  • The following have a high colour contrast with their surroundings: the internal door, some grab rails and the dropdown rail.
  • The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the toilet seat, some grab rails and the floor.
  • There is no emergency alarm.
  • The cubicle also has: a sanitary bin.
  • The wash basin tap type is lever mixer.
  • The following fixtures are at the recommended height: the toilet seat, the wash basin and hand dryer.
  • The following fixtures are not at a recommended height: the toilet roll holder and the soap dispenser.
  • The following fixtures can be reached from the toilet seat: the toilet roll holder, the wash basin and the soap dispenser.
  • The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: hand dryer.
  • There is a coat hook on the back of the cubicle door.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • There is step-free access into the toilet(s).
  • The shared standard toilet was surveyed.
  • The wash basin tap type is push.
  • There is a baby change facility which is not at a recommended height.
  • There are 4 shared standard cubicles, with the first on the right being a signed baby change room (photographs 3-7).
    The baby change is at a height of 92cm.

Entrance (Way Out to Ships and Galleries)

  • There is ramped/sloped or stepped access at this entrance.
  • A width between 75cm and 150cm and There is a ramp with a slight gradient .
  • The ramp has handrails on both sides.
  • There are 4 steps.
  • The steps are clearly marked with handrails on both sides.
  • The ramp overcomes the steps.
  • There are double automatic doors which open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 254cm.
  • There is a second set of doors.
  • There are double automatic doors which open by sliding.
  • The width of the opening is 167cm.
  • Comments View
    • Photographs 1 and 2 shows the security gates that can be passed through from the restaurant out onto the site. The gates are 96cm wide.
    • The exit onto the site is immediately on the left after the gates.
    • The ramp is approximately 130cm wide.
    • Alternatively, visitors can head towards the galleries via the main site entrance.

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