Accessibility
Our Accessibility Statement
Introduction
The Resident is committed to creating an inclusive and enjoyable environment for all our guests. We want everyone staying with us, including those with a disability, to feel welcome and valued. We’ve taken steps to ensure compliance with the Equality Act 2010 and are dedicated to making our hotels, services, and facilities as accessible as possible. We review and improve our accessibility measures annually, ensuring they reflect evolving guest needs, digital standards, and best practices in inclusive hospitality. We kindly ask that you inform us of any specific needs you may have before booking so that we can meet your requirements.
Physical spaces
Our hotels are unique in their architectural style, with parts of some buildings dating back to the mid-1800s. While not listed properties, there are factors that present an ongoing challenge in complying with the Equality Act 2010. However, where there are no restraints, we’ve been able to make significant improvements. We’ve installed lifts where needed and have designed accessible rooms with strobe lights, audible fire alarms, emergency bathroom pull chords, and roll-in showers for wheelchair users.
We provide the following free of charge:
- Portable hearing loop
- Vibrating pillow alert
- Waterproof shower chair
For our hearing-impaired guests, we provide the following:
- Deaf guard to be taken to your room. This will vibrate, light up, and flash in the event of an emergency
- Lift floor information on a digital screen to communicate which floor you’re currently on
- Induction loop for guests at our reception desks
- Accessible rooms that include a light over the bathroom door which will flash if the emergency cord is pulled
No animals are allowed at our hotels in London or Liverpool except for special assistance animals. Please contact the hotel directly to make your booking.
Well-behaved (and toilet-trained) dogs are only welcome at The Resident Edinburgh (charges apply). If you’re planning to travel with your four-legged friend, please email edinburgh.reception@residenthotels.com to request our Dog Policy Form. This should be signed and returned prior to your stay with us.
Please note, there is no charge for assistance dogs.
Digital standards
We’re committed to providing an inclusive digital experience for all our guests. We aim to make our website as accessible as possible, no matter what browser you use. To make it easier to read or view content on our website, it has been made fully scalable and adjustable using CSS (Cascading Style Sheets). Settings are dependent on the browser used but can be found by using the accessibility function in the browser’s menu. Our website is Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 2.2 (WCAG 2.2) compliant and includes mobile-friendly accessibility features, screen reader compatibility, keyboard navigation, content scaling, use of accessibility tools or plug-ins, and alt-text usage.
Guest communication
We aim to keep our guests informed about our accessible facilities through our website. We’ll continue to produce digital material in a format that enables guests to view all our content using software that allows font sizes to be modified. Any written material will, as standard, be available in a digital format for ease of viewing. Our team members will assist guests by reading material produced by The Resident to guests unable to read. We also have a portable hearing loop available for use by hearing-impaired guests.
Training
It is our duty as an employer to ensure our employees are aware of the Equality Act 2010. We’ve implemented an assessment programme and are committed to continually training our team members about how best to help our guests with all accessibility needs, including physical accessibility, neurodiversity, or any hidden disabilities.
Health & Safety PEEP Forms
On arrival, guests may be asked to fill in a PEEP (Personal Emergency Evacuation Plan) form. This allows our team to gauge what support, action, and protection is needed in case of a fire, flood, or other emergency.
Our accessibility principles
The Resident has adopted the following principles:
- To incorporate Equality Act 2010 requirements into new build and maintenance of both the interior and exterior of the premises
- To ensure that all printed communications comply with the RNIB guidelines
- To ensure that team members receive appropriate training on the latest Equality Act 2010 and will receive ongoing updates in accessibility standards
- To ensure any replaced signage is clear and complies with the Act
- To ensure our disabled toilet is always fully accessible
- To ensure that a team member is available 24 hours a day to assist guests who have requested additional services in advance
- To ensure that information is available in large print on request (or that a team member is available to explain the contents)
- To complete access assessments of our premises annually. We will incorporate requirements into our short- or long-term plan
- To take the necessary action to ensure that we comply with the Act once a failing has been brought to our attention, by incorporating it in our short- or long-term plan
- To continue to seek the views of our guests through guest satisfaction surveys
- To ensure all hazards are removed once brought to our attention (or highlighted as a hazard)
Feedback
Through guest satisfaction surveys, audits, and input from our management team, we’re confident that our guests with disabilities have a positive and inclusive experience at The Resident. Should you have any further questions, or wish to report any shortcomings, please contact us.