Wheelchair friendly shopping,dining

jtk174

Just started to take my sister out in a wheelchair. I have a small van with a wheelchair ramp. It's not really practical for me to transfer her from the wheelchair to a seat, wherever we go and she is not able to propel herself.

I was wondering if anyone has experience of wheelchair friendly places to go in the Belfast and surrounding area ( Carryduff, Ards, Holywood ) for the afternoon?

It takes me a while getting the wheelchair into the van and getting it hooked up and the same getting back out again, so ideally I would be most interested in places that have a covered in area, to protect us both from the rain, during those moments.

I know Forestside has an underground carpark with lifts up to the shops and likewise Victoria Centre but thats my lot! I hate shopping , but its not about me

Any tips for being out with a wheelchair gratefully received.

Ticked

Ikea, covered parking but an uncovered walk from the car park and the food, well, I give it a miss but it seems popular. Rushmere (Craigavon Centre), covered parking and lift. Eat in No 7, excellent. Newry is good for a walk around if it’s dry, eat in The Shelbourne, Hill Street, really lovely. Once you get used to pushing the wheelchair, it becomes second nature and people are generally very obliging by giving room to manoeuvre. Have a train trip too, NIR staff are the most wonderful folk, they put a ramp to the train for the chair, nothing is too much trouble. Have fun!

jtk174

Thanks very much for your reply. I would never have thought of the train. I just got my free travel pass!
Its going to be a learning experience. I went into a restaurant last week with the wheelchair. The outer doors were ok, only needed to open one and the chair went through it no problem. But then there were inner swing doors and the chair wouldn't go through just one, so trying to hold two open and pull the chair was difficult.
I tried the coffee shop at the crumlin road jail and it had a button on the wall outside that opened the door automatically. There might be others with this facility, I just haven't noticed.

Milko

Can't comment on the shopping facilities in the area but we recently completed a restaurant fit-out in Glengormley which involved extensive renovations to make it fully wheelchair friendly. Lovely surroundings (ok so I'm bias) but equally lovely food if you like Indian food ... Place is called Mama Masala


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jellynose

This link might contain some useful info for you:

https://www.disabledgo.com/organisations/belfast-city-council/main-2

Ticked

jtk174 wrote: »

Its going to be a learning experience. I went into a restaurant last week with the wheelchair. The outer doors were ok, only needed to open one and the chair went through it no problem. But then there were inner swing doors and the chair wouldn't go through just one, so trying to hold two open and pull the chair was difficult.

Yes, some doors are difficult. Sometimes reversing in or out is easiest, especially if there is a door saddle. Most supermarkets have special trolleys which clip onto the front of the wheelchair, makes grocery shopping much easier as you can push chair and trolley as one unit. Ask at the shop door where the wheelchair trolleys are, sometimes it’s not obvious. Things get easier with practice although I still manage to clip the occasional ankle!