Article from BTNews 28 OCTOBER 2019
Accessibility championed at awards
Thirteen awards have been handed out in a first-of-its-kind ceremony at the Langham London hotel aimed at recognising venues and businesses with a stylish approach to accessibility.
The inaugural Blue Badge Access Awards saw the 359-room Sea Containers London, formerly Mondrian London, named best hotel, with the Three Chimneys in Skye crowned best upmarket restaurant and Pip Lacey’s Hicce in London best budget restaurant.
The Deep aquarium in Hull won the Arnold Fewell Most Inclusive award, named after the late accessibility campaigner and hospitality marketing expert. Shakespeare’s Globe in London won the title as most inclusive employer.
The awards were created by combining two major design competitions, the Bespoke Access Awards and the Blue Badge Style Awards, with the support of Leonard Cheshire, the charity that supports individuals to live independently.
Leonard Cheshire chief executive Neil Heslop said: “Awards like this are profoundly important because they shine a light on best practice. Leonard Cheshire exists to improve life choices for people with disabilities, and accessibility is key to this.
“We work with cross-sector organisations every day in supporting individuals to live, learn and work independently, whatever their disability. We congratulate everyone involved to date and hope many more join in, inspired by tonight’s winners.”
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