Access Statement 2011

Posted 20 May 2011

Hillside Guest Accommodation

Access Statement

Introduction

Hillside lies at the foot of St Boniface Down above the town of Ventnor and offers 12 guest rooms and stables. The house is two hundred and eleven years old and whilst we aim to meet the needs of all our guests there are some period features which might make access difficult for people with limited mobility. We are located on a hill and have rooms on all our floors hence staircases between the floors. The rooms are not suitable for wheelchair users.

Pre-Arrival

We are located on a steep hill. Our location is peaceful yet we are within walking distance of the town.
The nearest shops are approximately half a mile away.
The nearest bus stop in a few hundred yards up Mitchell Avenue and buses around the island are fairly frequent.
The nearest railway station is Shanklin which is approximately 5 miles away. Taxis are usually available at the station but we can book one for you in advance if required.
There are several local taxi companies; we can make bookings in advance for you.
We are not able to accommodate dogs due to commitments to other guests.
Brochures and menus can be provided in large print if required. We regret we do not have facilites to prepare documents in braille.
Our website www.hillsideventnor.co.uk provides pictures of our accommodation and further information about the services we provide.
You can contact us by telephone, text, e-mail or fax. Please see the "Contact Information" section of this document for full details.

Arrival and Car Parking

To ensure your accommodation is ready we kindly ask check in to be after 3pm.. Earlier arrival may, however, be possible by arrangement.
Parking is on a level drive in front of the main door. If these spaces are taken, please park on the grass grid by the stables.
We are pleased to offer assistance with luggage.

Main Entrance

There are three steps of 9 inches up to the front door.
Please knock the door ring the bell on your arrival if we not already have spotted you.

Guest Accommodation - Public Areas

The common areas of our ground floor (sitting room, bar and dining room, conservatory) are on one level.
There are two steps (3" & 6") and a threshold (1") to the house.

There are fifteen steps to our first floor and sixteen steps to our second floor. The stairs are woollen carpeted.
There is a downstairs toilet by the front door available during the day / evening
We have twelve guest bedrooms - one the ground floor, 5 on the first floor and six on the second floor.
Hillside is centrally heated throughout but temperatures can be adjusted in each room to suit individual requirements.

Sitting Rooms, Dining Room & Conservatory

Guests are welcome to use the sitting rooms at any time.
The south facing sitting room has 3 armchairs and eight leather benches and a wood burning stove used during colder weather.
The west facing sitting room has two sofas and four armchairs and an open gas fire during cold weather.
The sitting rooms have a wooden floors.
A selection of local information, maps, magazines and board games are available in chest of drawers in the hall.
Dinner menus and weather forecasts are displayed in the hall.
Breakfast and dinner are served in the dining room.
The dining room has a wooden floor.
There is a small step from the dining room and bar to the conservatory and three steps onto the terrace.
Hillside are licensed for the sale of alcohol in the common areas.

Bedrooms

Our ground floor bedroom has a wooden floor. All our other bedrooms on the first and second floor are woollen carpeted. The stables have wooden floors.
There are en suite facilities in all our rooms consisting of a bath or shower, WC and wash basin.
We also provide a hair dryer, torch, sewing materials, a selection of books and magazines and a basic first aid kit.
Our beds are made with individual duvets of goose feather and down and are pillows are goose feather and down. Our sheets and pillow cases are 100% cotton.
We are happy to provide sheets and blankets if preferred. Please specify before your arrival if required.
There is a fitted wardrobe with shelves and a desk in each room.
All our bedrooms have at least one chair and a stool.
There is a room information folder in each bedroom which contains further information and details of emergency contacts including doctors and hospitals.
We do not offer tea and coffee making facilities in our rooms but we are happy to provide refreshments in our common areas from 7.30am or after special arrangements.

Bedrooms

Bedroom 12 is on our ground floor.
Bedrooms 1-5 are on our first floor.
Bedrooms 6-11 are on our second floor.
Stables are over the courtyard.
Our double rooms have access to the bed from both sides.
Our double beds are 5 ft and our single beds are 3 ft.

Gardens

We have a large garden with lawns and woodland.
Guests are very welcome to enjoy our garden at all times. Access to the garden is via the front door or conservatory door. We also have a door from the office at the end of the corridor on the ground floor.
There are three steps into the garden.
You can access the road down to the town by walking through the garden.
Our garden furniture and benches are for the use of guests. There are 12 teak benches for your comfort and 2 large tables and 12 chairs on the terrace.
Fencing around the land is to keep the sheep in - and the area is for sheep only.
Please do not feed the sheep as they are not pets.

Additional Information

There are fire extinguishers on all floors.
In the event of a fire the alarm will sound. Please advise us if you have a hearing impairment and might not hear this.
The building can be evacuated via the front doors or conservatory doors. In an emergency there is also an exit via our kitchen - the door is opposite the dining room.
We do not permit smoking in the house or in common areas. Please request and ash tray and further information if smoking outside.
We are happy to cater for special diets or any particular dietary requirements you may have. Please advise us of these before your arrival.
We are happy to refrigerate any medication. We can also keep any perishables (such as local Island cheese!) in our fridge for a limited period.
Mobile phone reception at Hillside is limited.
Wifi is accessible from all rooms, common areas and gardens.

Contact Information