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The Café at the Palace

Palace of Holyroodhouse, Canongate, Edinburgh, EH8 8DX

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Access Guide

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Summary

  • For information about the opening hours please click here.
  • Amenities at this site include: a café.
  • There is not onsite parking available here and there is designated Blue Badge on street parking nearby.
  • The most accessible entrance has manual doors and level step free access.
  • There are 2 step-free entrances.
  • The entrance surveyed is the Mews entrance off the courtyard.
  • The building has 1 floor once inside.
  • There is step free access once inside.
  • There is ramped access to the accessible toilet facility and the baby change room.
  • There is a member of staff available for help and assistance.
  • This venue also has the following available: seating.
  • Toilet and changing facilities available include: step free standard toilets and an accessible toilet for the use of everyone.
  • There is/are 1 toilet(s) designated as accessible.
  • The accessible toilet surveyed can be found to the side of the café.
  • The standard toilets surveyed can be found to the side of the café.
  • Opening times for the Café are the same as the Palace. The Café at the Palace is closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays.
    Afternoon tea must be pre-booked and slots are available between the following times: 12:00-16:00 (April - October) 12:00-15:00 (November - March).

Parking

  • This venue does not have a car park.
  • Nearby parking includes: Blue Badge on-street parking (within 50m) and a public car park.
  • There is not a designated drop-off point.

Public Transport

  • There is a bus stop within approximately 150m of the venue.
  • The nearest bus stop is the Scottish Parliament stop on Canongate. It is served by Lothian Buses route 35.
    It is also served by the Edinburgh Bus Tours hop on / hop off services.
  • The nearest train station is Edinburgh Waverley.
  • Edinburgh Waverley station is located 1.0km (0.7 miles) west of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.
  • The nearest tram station is St Andrew Square.
  • St Andrew Square tram stop is located 1.5km (0.9 miles) west of the Palace of Holyroodhouse.

Entrance (Horse Wynd Entrance)

  • The entrance surveyed is located on Horse Wynd.
  • There is step-free level access at this entrance.
  • There are double manual doors which open both ways.
  • The width of the opening is 124cm.
  • There is not a second set of doors.
  • There is a lip on the path at the edge of the patio area, on the approach to the entrance.

Entrance (Courtyard Entrance)

  • The entrance surveyed is located in the Mews courtyard to the right as you face the café.
  • There is step-free access at this entrance, via ramp/slope.
  • The slope has a slight gradient .
  • There is a single manual door which opens away from you.
  • The width of the opening is 94cm.
  • There is not a second set of doors.
  • There is a similar entrance in the Mews courtyard to the left as you face the café.

Eating and Drinking

  • This is a café which serves hot and cold meals and snacks.
  • There is step-free level access to this area.
  • Tables can be booked in advance.
  • There is a counter where food and drink can be ordered.
  • Menu types include; written wall menus.
  • Menus are easy to read.
  • The following are available here: drinking straws, takeaway cups and a portable card machine for payment.
  • Lighting levels are good here.
  • There is no (or very little) background noise here.
  • There is a low level counter at the recommended height for wheelchair users (between 76cm - 86cm).
  • The seating area has: room for a wheelchair user to manoeuvre (150cm x 150cm), tables which are accessible to wheelchair users and a mixture of chairs with and without armrests.
  • The seating area does not have: a priority table.
  • Tables are at a recommended height for wheelchair users (between 70cm - 80cm).
  • Some flooring in the area is smooth and even.
  • Where the flooring is not smooth or even, it is due to uneven paving/tiles and unsurfaced paths.
  • Some of the flooring includes large repeating patterns in bold colours, which may look like steps or holes to some people.
  • Some of the flooring has a very shiny finish, which could cause issues with glare or look slippery.
  • The chairs with armrests are located in the courtyard and on the terrace.
    There are no seats with armrests internally.

Ramp or Slope (Accessible Toilet and Baby Change)

  • There is a ramp with a slight gradient .
  • The ramp has a handrail on the left going down.

Parent and Baby Room / Breastfeeding Room

  • There is step-free access to the parent and baby room, via ramp/slope.
  • There is a manual door which opens inwards and has a low colour contrast.
  • The width of the door opening is 77cm.
  • There is a baby change facility at a recommended height (75cm).
  • The wash basin tap type is sensor.
  • There is a toilet in the parent and baby room.
  • Waste bins include: a nappy bin and a sanitary bin.

Toilet with Adaptations (Left Hand Transfer)

  • This accessible toilet is located on the right as you enter via the Mews entrance.
  • There is step-free access into the accessible toilet, via ramp/slope.
  • This accessible toilet is approximately 20m from the Mews entrance.
  • There is pictorial signage on or near the door.
  • There is a manual door which opens outwards and has a poor colour contrast.
  • The door has a lever twist lock.
  • The width of the accessible toilet door opening is 87cm.
  • The dimensions of the cubicle are 152cm x 208cm and it has a turning space of at least 150cm x 150cm.
  • There is a lateral transfer space to the left of the toilet seat.
  • The lateral transfer space is 84cm from the side of the toilet pan to the wall.
  • There is a push button flush on the wall above the toilet.
  • The following grab rails are available: 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 fixtures can be reached from the toilet seat: the toilet roll holder and the wash basin.
  • The following fixtures cannot be reached from the toilet seat: hand dryer.
  • The height of the toilet seat above floor level is 48cm.
  • The height of the toilet roll holder is 96cm.
  • The wash basin tap type is sensor.
  • The height of the wash basin is 72cm.
  • The height of the hand dryer is 93cm.
  • There is a pull cord emergency alarm but it is not at a recommended height for seated users (within 10cm from the floor).
  • There is not a shelf.
  • The height of the coat hook is 122cm from the floor.
  • The cubicle also has: a full length mirror, a nappy/incontinence items bin and a sanitary bin.
  • The following have a good colour contrast with their surroundings: all grab rails and the dropdown rail.
  • The following have a less clear colour contrast with their surroundings: the internal door, the floor and the toilet seat.
  • Lighting levels are good in the cubicle.

Standard Toilet(s)

  • There is step-free level access into the toilet(s).
  • There is a manual door which opens inwards and has a low colour contrast.
  • The male standard toilet was surveyed.
  • There is also a female toilet in the same location.
  • The wash basin tap type is sensor.
  • Lighting levels are low in the cubicle.
  • Hand dryers are located on the underside of the mirrors above each sink.

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