Auto Amazon Links: No products found.
St George’s Hall in Liverpool is enhancing its accessibility to ensure that a broader range of visitors can fully enjoy this renowned historic venue. The improvements aim to make the Grade I listed building more inclusive by addressing various access needs and allowing people to engage with its exhibitions, events, guided tours, and performances more comfortably.
Key upgrades include the introduction of step-free pathways covering most parts of the hall, accessible entrances on St John’s Lane and William Brown Street, and the installation of both standard and platform lifts. These lifts provide access to multiple floors and historically significant areas such as the holding cells featured in guided tours. Notably, a ramp added to the Great Hall now enables wheelchair users to experience the famous Minton tile floor, a first in the building’s history.
The venue has also prioritized accessible facilities throughout its premises. There is a dedicated Changing Places facility alongside accessible toilets located on several floors, with transfer arrangements catering to different needs. Additional amenities include adapted shower facilities and baby changing areas designed for accessibility. Visitors attending events benefit from step-free access to the North Hall entrance, which features ramps and handrails, while the primary entrance on St John’s Lane offers automatic doors and a lowered reception desk for ease of access.
Staff at St George’s Hall have undergone specialist training in neurodiversity and dementia awareness to better support visitors with specific needs. Tours have been designed to be flexible, accommodating visitors by avoiding any inaccessible areas when necessary, with seating provided at intervals to allow for rest. Furthermore, alternative formats such as large-print materials are available on request, supported by detailed accessibility guides offered through AccessAble. These collective efforts underline the venue’s commitment to making the cultural and historical experience at St George’s Hall accessible to as many people as possible without compromising its heritage.
Lord Mayor of Liverpool, Councillor William Shortall, who is the city’s first wheelchair user to hold the position, recently visited the hall alongside disability rights advocate Harin Ellis to review these developments. Reflecting on his visit, Cllr Shortall emphasized: “As a wheelchair user myself, I know how important it is that people can access and enjoy the same spaces, experiences, and opportunities as everyone else. That’s why it was fantastic to recently visit St George’s Hall and see first-hand the improvements that have been made to make this iconic Liverpool landmark more accessible and welcoming to all. It’s clear that real thought has gone into ensuring more people can experience everything this magnificent building has to offer, and enjoy its history, culture, and events. These improvements demonstrate a genuine commitment to inclusion, and I’m delighted to see accessibility being placed at the heart of the visitor experience.”
Disability rights advocate Harin Ellis also shared her perspective, stating: “As a disability rights campaigner, I believe that everyone regardless of disability or ability should be included in important decisions like this. It was an honour to be part of this work. It is so important that disabled people have the same equal opportunity to participate in as many things as possible. Disabled people should never be used as a tick box. We are people too, and we deserve the same right to be included as anyone else. All too often, people with disabilities, those with mental health needs, and young people are overlooked simply because they are young or because they have a disability. Not every disability is visible. We must be included in every decision – the same decisions that non-disabled people get to have a say on.”
Read the full article on Liverpool Express here: Read More
Auto Amazon Links: No products found.