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WINNERS & WHY 24/25

Blue Badge Style, Best Bar

Winner: Oriole, Covent Garden, "They are the only speakeasy style bar that's accessible too. With great entertainment, a lovely accessible toilet, a lift & welcoming staff". This article from the Sustainable Restaurant Association (SRA) explains how from the beginning Oriole chose to be welcoming to all....)

Play to see a mustard wall with black tiles give good visual contrast with white sanitaryware at the accessible loo in Oriole Bar.

Highly Commended: O’Neills Southampton & their inclusive dartboard & Bubble Club, London an inclusive night club 'co-created by people with learning disabilities'

Bubble Club - Co-created by people With Learning Disabilities
The Winners From Oriole Having Too Good a Time With The Bubble Clubbers
O'Neill's Southampton & Their Adapted Digital Dartboard

Conran and Partners, Best Restaurant

Winner: Time Spirit, Macallan Estate, Scotland, "Well thought out & accessible design, encompassing a stunning view. Their accessible toilet looks stylish and the food promises to be stellar as well!" Take a look at their acceptance speech below.

Beautiful Restaurant Encompassing a Stunning View
Stylish Accessible Toilet & Not a Hint of Hospitalisation

Highly Commended: El Celler de Can Roca Spain

Phab, Best Guest Accommodation/Boutique Hotel

Winner: Novotel, Paddington Village, Liverpool "The ceiling hoist from bed to bathroom was genius and not at all hospital-like".

Katie From Accor/Novotel with Lizzie Mistry Nominator of Phab Best Guest Accommodation
The Ceiling Hoist From Bedroom to bathroom Wowed The Judges

Highly Commended: Brick House Cottages

HEWI, Best Luxury Hotel

Winner: Titanic Hotel, Belfast "Somewhere that subtly evokes the style of the Titanic ship and also encompasses access for all"...."they're doing great things". Here's their acceptance speech from General Manager Adrian McNally.

Highly Commended: University Arms, Cambridge

Motability Scheme, Best Accessible Day Out

Winners: Frameless, London & Brentford FC . The judging by Motability Scheme rated them equal on points for accessibility, ambience/experience/style and thoughtfulness. They said of Frameless "They truly blew me away with how accessible they have made things........The fact they train ALL their  staff above and beyond, shows their dedication". Brentford FC ensure "everyone can experience football in a way that is enjoyable for them. Some highlights include their Stoma friendly toilets....... and their sensory space.......seems like a VIP treatment rather than "hiding" away Neuro Diverse individuals .........Loved the video on their audio described games - not something I considered but was so touching to see the impact!"

Conor Bagenal Brentford FC Surrounded by his Glamorous Supporters, Mary & Zoe
Andy Mann & Ochan Gunatilake, from Immersive Art Experience, Frameless.

Highly Commended: centre MK

Historic England, Best Venue in a Historic Building

Winner: Blenheim Palace for a 2nd year. "Their attention to the needs of every kind of disability is laudable, given the restrictions of a Grade I Listed Building and a UNESCO World heritage Site. The sensory environment in the kitchens is particularly innovative as you are permitted to touch the exhibits...... and hear the voice of Sir Winston Churchill in his family home. An exemplar for historic buildings".

Alice Bennett & Aimee Anna Akinola From Blenheim Palace - Winner , For a 2nd Year, of Historic England's, Best Venue in a Historic Building

Highly Commended: OWO Raffles, Whitehall

HEWI, Best Accessible Bathroom/Toilet

Winner: Rick Stein, Padstow

Highly Commended: RAF Museum, Cosford

Rick Stein Padstow Made a Great Space For Their Accessible Toilet. Plenty of Room With Marble & Mosaic Surfaces to Aid Visually Impaired
The Changing Places Toilet at RAF Cosford won Over the Judges With The Vapour Trails on The Walls

Best LGBTQ+ Venue

Winner: Queer Britain - The National LGBTQ+ Museum, in a Listed Building with a Sesame Access lift.

white walls wit images and brown floor with glass display cabinet with a white jacket on a dummy

Highly Commended: White Beam Wood, Guest House, Devon

Robin Sheppard Award, Access Champion of the Year

Antonia Lee-Bapty Accepting on Behalf of Euan MacDonald, Founder of Euan's Guide
Euan Macdonald Who Sadly Died in 2024

Winner: Euan MacDonald, Euan’s Guide (posthumous). "Euan was a leader when it came to accessibility. His guide has helped so many people and has become the standard for accessible information......we couldn't give this inaugural award to anyone else"

Highly Commended: Renata Paranyi, Aloft Hotel, "someone who consistently strives to make their hotel accessible to all".

Media Access Champion/Journalist Award

Winner: Sophie Morgan, Ch4 & Rights on Flights, "A positive representation of disability, she has advocated for greater accessibility for many years culminating in Rights on Flights which has finally made airlines sit up and listen with regard to disabled passengers".

Highly Commended: Simon Minty, Gogglebox & Founding Supporter of BBAAwards

Best International Venue

Winner: Naniwa Issui, Matsui, Japan, Nominated by Accessible Japan "They made a great effort to provide an 'onsen', a traditional Japanese thermal bathing experience, accessible for all".

Yuji Katsutani, Ownner From Naniwa Issui Flew in From International Venue - The Video Below Shows Why. The Accessible Room & Traditional Bath Have Stunning Views of Lake Shinji in Matsui & All Completely Accessible.

Highly Commended: Ani Resorts, S. Asia

Ludicrous Loo, Winner: Sanderson Hotel

7 Ramps & Several Staff Were Involved Trying to Use a Ramp For a Disabled Passenger at Greenhithe Station. In The End a Member of The Public Helped Them Alight!! - Ridiculous
The Sanderson Accessible Room Presented me With This Bewildering Accessible Loo - Ludicrous

Ridiculous Ramp, Winner:  Greenhithe Station

O\'Neill\'s Southampton
Bubble Club