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Moat House Hotel

Function Areas

The function rooms are located on the east side of the hotel building with a separate external entrance. There is no direct access to the ground floor rooms from the hotel: residents will have to take the main lift to the 1st floor, travel along the small balcony corridor overlooking reception & bar area to reach the small floor connection lift. Alternatively, exit the hotel, turn left and go around to the side entrance.

All the function rooms are fitted with an induction loop.

There are unisex accessible toilets on the ground floor as well as in the main hotel reception area.

The small connection lift between the function levels is exactly that: SMALL! It does not have Braille markers or vocal notices.

Hotel Services

Some lift buttons and all bedrooms have Braille markers but the main elevators do not have vocal notices. Please note that one of the main elevators is also panoramic, so if you suffer from vertigo, avoid it.

We have been assured that all waiting staff can respond to dietary enquiries. In addition, there will always be a senior chef if your waiter is unable to provide you with the information you require. The restaurant does not have ‘large grip cutlery’ available but Electrical Eggs UK is investigating this as a special provision for those who may need it.

The main entrance is a rotating door and there is an adjacent accessible door, with assistance call button. The hotel has assured us that these doors are never locked at night.

There is a leisure club but it is not suitable for fans with significant physical disabilities. There are no hoists for pool access and no trained staff to assist. There is, however, space to park a wheelchair for those who are able to use the club facilities.

The hotel has one electronic alert device for the hard of hearing but can obtain more if required. Please inform Eggs UK or the hotel directly to make arrangements.

Link Corridor

Internal pedestrian access to both the SECC and Clyde Auditorium but at the ‘connection’, it is not even but a wheelchair lift is provided. The hotel section of the access corridor is narrow with lots of fire doors, so it could be difficult to navigate if not with a friend or carer.

SECC - Clyde Auditorium

This is a purpose built public performance arena with excellent facilities for people with disabilities. The main stage area has a full induction loop fitted and there are wheelchair spaces plus disabled toilets on all levels, with good lift access.

SECC - Main Building

There are automated doors at both entrances to the SECC, with stewards on hand to widen the doorway if requested.

The public areas are fully accessible to wheelchair users and there are several lifts connecting to the first floor. The small lift adjacent to the 1st floor restaurant & bar area has no Braille markers or vocal notices. The main lifts have Braille markers but no vocal notices.

There are several unisex disabled toilets in the public area and some additional ones in the largest halls.

Interaction is working very hard to ensure that as many as possible are accessible to fans in wheelchair or scooter. However, some do not have wide enough doors or are too small to accommodate more than one user.

Interaction is still investigating how to best serve fans with hearing loss, as none of the large halls, except the Lomond Suite and hopefully Hall 5, are fitted with induction loops. These will have to be fitted separately and may have to be restricted to a specific area in the hall. We will keep you advised on this situation.

Public telephones in the main corridor can be used by fans wearing a hearing aid.

Blue badge holders should use car park 3 for events in the main centre and car park 1 for events in the Clyde Auditorium. Both car parks are accessible from Finnieston Street. Disabled spaces are available on a first come, first served basis and normal parking rates apply.

Hilton Hotel: Party Venue

The main entrance has a large, slow moving, revolving door and two wider ‘standard’ doors on either side, with an assistance button next to the right hand door. The foyer is completely level and there are three available lifts to the party floor.

There is a separate entrance to the function rooms but not lift, so wheelchair users must use the main entrance. However, if travelling by car they can use a small lift from the basement care park directly to the function level.

There is a unisex disabled toilet located close to the largest function rooms as well as one on the ground floor but a word of warning: the general standard of signage is poor.

Corridors to the smaller function rooms on the west side of the building are a bit narrow and some of the rooms may be difficult to enter due to limited turning circle.

Service Animals

Welcome to our four-legged friends! Any fan travelling with one should contact Electrical Eggs UK as soon as possible, particularly if an Access Volunteer is required for ‘refreshment’ breaks! There is a good walking range around the main site but please remember to dispose of any doggie mess appropriately. Thanks.

Accessibility and Public Transport

Rail Links from SECC to City Centre and Party Hotel

Nearest station to the Hilton Hotel is Anderston but it has no lift and therefore is not wheelchair accessible.

Assistance can be provided if boarding or leaving a train arriving at the Exhibition Centre or Central Station but this must requested in advance and there is no guarantee that it will always be available, especially at night.

There is lift access from the station platform up to the ground level where the covered pedestrian walkway links across to the SECC but at this time, cannot find out if it is locked at night.

Glasgow Underground

This provides some excellent commuter links to some of Glasgow’s sights but is not wheelchair accessible.

Fans with visual impairment can travel free of charge, according to the SPT website. Govan, Partick & St. Enoch trackside accessible by escalator only but can be turned off on request for use by visually impaired and guide dog users. Very helpful staff!

Public Buses

First Bus provides most of the city services and their fleet is predominantly ‘low riders’: can drop entrance down to pavement level for wheelchair access/buggies.

There is no direct bus service to the SECC anymore and the nearest bus route into the city is either from Argyle Street, using the walkway from SECC across the rail line or Oswald Street (northbound), walking along the riverside.

The Citylink Airport Link Service 905 runs every 10 minutes but is unfortunately not wheelchair accessible. The fare is approximately 3.30 GBP one way and the journey time is 25 minutes but can be longer during peak periods. There is a drop off point in Bothwell Street, which is close for the Hilton, Marriot and Posthouse Forte but make sure clear directions are given for pedestrian routes.

Fans with mobility aids should look for the 950 service (Stand 4 at the airport), which is a low rider with wheelchair space. Adult single fare is again 3.30 GBP but it does not operate as frequently as the 905!

Tour Buses

There are a number of tour buses that stop at the Tall Ship wharf behind the SECC but most are not wheelchair accessible. However, the staff are very helpful and as we recall, they have a closed-loop system built into the vehicles. Although it is a bit more expensive, it is another option to get around the city provided you like taking the ‘long way round’!

Taxis

There are a number of private & commercial companies listed but we would suggest considering Glasgow Wide Taxis Limited as they have a large fleet of Metro vehicles, which can carry wheelchair users. Electrical Eggs UK has checked that they can carry scooter users: generally, a scooter can fit into a Metro but a lot will depend on the total weight! Contact cards will be available from the information desk and Eggs UK desk.

Metro cabs also have induction loops as part of the speaker system for those with hearing impairment.

The company also runs licensed tours of Glasgow so you can see the city from the comfort of an accessible cab! The tour costs 25 GBP, must be booked in advance (phone 0141 429 2900) and last about one hour.

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Page last updated 1^st August 2005