A HOST of Oxford’s pubs, clubs and shops do not cater for wheelchair users, a disabled student has claimed.

Zoe Hallam, who suffers from muscular dystrophy, has listed what she said are among the best and worst premises for disabled people in the city.

And some of the 20-year-old’s grumbles are with top venues, including the O2 Academy, Odeon cinema and high street chains like Topshop.

The St John’s College student is part of the Muscular Dystrophy Campaign’s Trailblazers group, young disabled people campaigning for better access.

They met MPs recently to talk about tackling discrimination.

Miss Hallam said: “A lot of the problem in Oxford is that because it’s such an old city, it’s difficult to adapt premises for disabled people.

“But it makes planning nights out with friends quite difficult if someone is in a wheelchair.

“Unless you’ve been somewhere before, you know that places do not tend to be accessible. It is very difficult to be spontaneous.

“About 80 per cent of pubs and clubs are already ruled out because they are not accessible. It means it’s a lot more difficult, a lot more effort and a lot more work to have fun with friends.”

Miss Hallam also highlighted a number of city centre pubs for praise, which included Far from the Madding Crowd in Friars Entry and All Bar One in High Street.

However, she believes others could do more to help the disabled.

Last year’s Equality Act said businesses must make “reasonable adjustments” to their premises to make sure disabled people can use them.

Where possible, bosses must change the way things are done, change their buildings and provide extra aids to give the same level of service offered to other customers.

Miss Hallam added: “You can’t go out to where your friends want to go, but you don’t want to be the person who ruins it for everybody else. It seems clubs in Oxford do not expect disabled people to go to them so don’t consider them when they make access arrangements.

“It becomes a self-fulfilling prophecy. They are alienating what is potentially quite a large number of customers.”

Disability campaigner Gwynneth Pedler, 85, from Oxfordshire Unlimited, said: “It needs people like Zoe and our organisation to keep on about this issue.

“It is improving, but every time someone has a problem, they should tell us as we have the power to start putting on pressure.

“We have the ear of the council and the Equality and Human Rights Commission, and they may find they are faced with a court case.”

She said concerns had been raised before about Topshop in Queen Street and the Odeon cinema in George Street.

Oxford City Council’s access office advises shops, bars and restaurants on access issues when buildings are being renovated or improved.

But spokesman Louisa Dean said: “We have no reason or ability to require shops and bars to improve their access.

“We also have a phenomenal number of listed buildings in the city centre where such alterations might harm the fabric of the listed building.”

FIVE OF THE BEST

  • Wahoo, Hythe Bridge Street: “The only club in Oxford which has full disabled access, including lifts and a disabled toilet, although granted this is often in use by non-disabled patrons.”
  • All Bar One, High Street: “Easy access to all areas of the restaurant and bar, and plenty of space to manoeuvre a wheelchair in between tables.”
  • Fire and Stone, George Street: “Lots of wide doorways and space inside, and while not all tables can be accessed by wheelchair, the staff do everything they can to ensure you are seated swiftly.”
  • Far From The Madding Crowd, Friars Entry: “While this pub can be crowded, the two entrances mean it’s quite easy to get to a table, and if it’s difficult to get to the bar the staff will take your order from the table.”
  • Apricot, Queen Street: “A nice spacious store with plenty of room to move around. Almost all of the clothing rails are at waist height which makes it very easy for wheelchair users to peruse the items on sale.”

FIVE OF THE WORST

  • Bridge Bar, Hythe Bridge Street: Zoe says: “This establishment installed a lift which can take you from the ground floor to the basement, but not to the mezzanine, which is where the biggest bar and club area is situated.”

They say: “We have had a disabled lift installed for seven or eight years, which goes from the ground floor to the first floor, where the main bar, dance floor and disabled toilets are. We have lots of people in wheelchairs who come here.”

  • Pod, High Street: Zoe says: “This shop has just opened and as far as I can tell there is no way for me to access it. The entrance is up three steps and there’s no bell to alert staff I need assistance.”

They say: “We frequently help customers in wheelchairs and there is always a member of staff available who will be very happy to assist anyone. We are aware that wheelchair access is an issue, but it is a listed building. We are investigating available options to improve our access.”

  • O2 Academy, Cowley Road: Zoe says: “While the ground floor of this venue is accessible, many of the gigs and events I want to attend are held in their smaller upstairs room, and despite my repeated requests of them to provide lift access I have to rely on their security staff carrying me upstairs, which is not only undignified, but also extremely hazardous both for me and for those assisting me.”

No response provided by O2 Academy.

  • Odeon cinema, George Street: Zoe says: “Out of their six screens only two are suitable for wheelchairs, which significantly limits the choice I have in films. Also staff are very poorly trained in disability awareness.”

They say: “Due to the age of the building as much as practically possible has been done to allow disabled access, with Oxford’s second cinema Odeon Magdalen Street, also providing disabled access to their largest screen, which seats 600 guests.”

  • Topshop, Queen Street: Zoe says: “It seems to be a universal feature of Topshop branches that they are cluttered and difficult to navigate. Lack of attention from staff means that clothes are often left on the floor in the aisles, plus three or four different items of clothing will be put on one front-facing rack meaning wheelchair users can only access about 25 per cent of the stock, the rest being too far back.”

They say: “We are unable to comment at the moment.”