Honest access reviews from Tom “Wheelz” West
Pubs, bars, clubs, hotels, restaurants, football grounds. I go, I take the photos and I tell you the truth about getting in, getting round and whether it’s actually worth it.
Everyone who holds a door, moves a table or finds the key to the loo is part of this crowd.
1The scoring
Plenty of places tick the ramp box and the loo box and still leave you stuck by the door all night. So every place gets five checks, each scored out of five wheels, with photos and a straight reason for every score.
Parking, the route to the door, steps, ramps, door widths and lifts that actually work.
Measured in centimetres, not vibes.
Can you actually get around once you are in? Space between tables, bars you can see over and whether I spent the night reversing.
Full turn without an audience?
Is there one, is it unlocked, is it full of mop buckets and is the red cord hanging all the way to the floor where it belongs.
Plus Changing Places and RADAR keys.
Do they understand accessibility? Do they talk to me or to my mate? Great staff can rescue a bad building and they always get the credit.
Talked to me, not over me?
Can you be part of it properly? Seeing the stage, getting on the dance floor, sitting with your mates rather than in a corner on your own.
Did I get the same night everyone else got?
2The reviews
I am out doing the research right now. Somebody has to.
Now boarding
Each one gets the five checks, real photos, the measurements that matter and an honest answer on whether it is worth the trip.
3About Tom
I’m Tom. Most people call me Wheelz. I reckon accessibility shouldn’t mean missing out on the places, the experiences and the nights everyone else gets to enjoy.
I’ve spent years throwing myself into pubs, bars, clubs, hotels, restaurants, football grounds and venues that range from brilliantly accessible to… very much not. A ramp and a loo sign only tell you half the story. I want to know if you can actually get around, whether the staff get it, whether you can join in properly and, most importantly, whether the place is actually worth going to.
So that’s what you get here. Useful information, told honestly, with a bit of humour and a lot of lived experience. And if a younger disabled person reads this and books the gig, the match or the night out, even better. Disability doesn’t have to mean living a smaller life.
4Out and about
The logo is a wheelchair crowd surfing. This is where the idea came from.
5The map
There are no pins yet. Where should the first one go?
Pins incoming
A pub with a great ramp. A club that got it all wrong. A ground where the view from the wheelchair spaces is actually good. Tell me and it goes on the list.
6For venues
Get it right and everybody will hear about it. Get it wrong and you will hear about it too, honestly and fairly, with the good bits in there as well. Fix it and I will come back and say so.
7What’s on
Shows, conferences and awareness days about access and inclusion. Mostly in the UK, with the odd one worth watching online. Dates can move, so check the organiser’s site before you book anything.
29Oct 2026
The Drum, Wembley. A day for event organisers, venues and suppliers on making events work for disabled people.
3Nov 2026
A day for shops, venues and businesses to make their customer experience accessible, in person and online. Usually the first Tuesday in November.
19 Novto 19 Dec 2026
A month of events about the history of disabled people’s fight for equal rights. This year’s theme is Disability, Politics and Democracy.
3Dec 2026
The United Nations day for disabled people’s rights and inclusion. Lots of UK events happen around it.
4Dec 2026
The American version of the London show, in Alexandria, Virginia. You can join online from the UK.
15 to 19Mar 2027
A week about the strengths of neurodivergent people, started in UK schools.
23 to 24Mar 2027
NEC Birmingham. The UK’s big show for disability, independent living and mobility kit, with talks all day.
May2027, dates to be confirmed
A week about deaf people, sign language and making places easier to use for people with hearing loss.
20May 2027
A day about digital access: websites, apps and booking systems that work for everyone.
July2027
A month of pride events run by and for disabled people.
Know an event we should add? Tell us through the send form.
8Know your rights
A short, plain guide to the rules on access. It is general information, not legal advice.
In England, Scotland and Wales, the Equality Act protects disabled people from being treated worse when they use services. That includes pubs, bars, clubs, hotels, restaurants, gigs and football grounds.
Your rights as a disabled person (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab)
You are disabled under the Act if a physical or mental condition has a big, long term effect on everyday life. Long term usually means 12 months or more.
Venues have to make reasonable changes so disabled customers are not at a big disadvantage. That can mean:
They should plan ahead, not wait for a disabled customer to turn up. They cannot charge you for the adjustment.
The duty to make adjustments, section 20 (opens in a new tab)
Guidance for venues and services (Equality and Human Rights Commission) (opens in a new tab)
Employers have to make reasonable adjustments too. Access to Work is government money that can pay for support at work, like equipment, a support worker or travel.
Reasonable adjustments at work (GOV.UK) (opens in a new tab)
Northern Ireland has its own law, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995. The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland explains it.
Equality Commission for Northern Ireland (opens in a new tab)
Tell the venue first. Write down what happened and when. If that does not sort it, the Equality Advisory and Support Service gives free advice.
Equality Advisory and Support Service (opens in a new tab)
And tell Tom. Send Tom somewhere.
9Our allies
Organisations we have met, rate highly and want to work with. If you need what they do, go and talk to them.
Plymouth
Three companies working for deaf, disabled and older people:
The Inclusivity Group (opens in a new tab) Complete Communication (opens in a new tab) Complete Training (opens in a new tab) Complete Independence (opens in a new tab)
#TalentFirst
A job board run by disabled people, for disabled people. The employers on it are looking for disabled talent, and the whole Evenbreak team has lived experience.
Looking for work? If your access needs make job hunting hard, have a look on Evenbreak. The jobs there are with employers who want to hire disabled people.
Whitstable, Kent
A Kent agency for registered BSL interpreters, deafblind interpreters, lipspeakers, notetakers and speech to text reporters. Run by a mother and daughter team.
Running an event or a venue? Book an interpreter so deaf customers get the same night as everyone else.
10Send Tom somewhere
Brilliant or rubbish, I want to hear about it. Venues, you can use this too. Tell me where it is and what happened and it goes on the list.
I read every one of these myself.
