Prioritising venue accessibility beyond compliance at {10-11} Carlton House Terrace

As an accessible event venue, we’re on an ever-progressing journey of evaluation and adaptation at {10-11} Carlton House Terrace. With a deep-rooted commitment to ensuring that all barriers to attendance and participation at events are removed for every individual, we regularly review and improve our venue accessibility provisions.

Most recently, this led us to partner with Enhance the UK – a registered charity that is working to change societal views about disability. They reviewed our accessibility policy, as well as conducting a thorough audit of every event space within our Grade I listed Georgian Townhouses. What we learnt was invaluable!

This blog details the actionable steps we’ve since taken to improve accessibility and inclusion, and how we plan to continue evolving as a leading venue for accessible events in London.

What are the key physical considerations for an accessible event venue?

Enhance the UK is a user-led organisation, so their insight and recommendations are based on the lived experience of people with a range of disabilities and needs. This really helped us to understand and identify any physical areas for improvement, across the entire guest journey, within the venue.

We were delighted that following significant investment in infrastructural upgrades, as part of the recent transformation of our lower-ground floor, many of the main focus areas had already been addressed. This included removing the physical barriers between the west and east entrances, allowing step-free access and creating a more open environment with unobstructed sightlines for in-person events. Our three brand-new adjoining spaces – the Lecture Room, Wohl Gallery and SHAPE Room – are fully wheelchair accessible and suitable for anyone using mobility aids.

Installing hearing loops in all meeting rooms, ensuring all public floors are accessible to all individuals, optimising wayfinding and providing accessible toilets were also prioritised.

Supporting sensory requirements for enhanced venue accessibility

Understanding that many people with sensory processing difficulties can become negatively impacted by their environment, we created a dedicated Quiet Room. Events can be crowded, noisy and overstimulating at times, so providing a safe space for anyone needing sensory respite while onsite was a huge priority for us.

This soothing, private space can also be used for prayer, breastfeeding or expressing milk, and other personal requirements, boosting inclusivity for all at {10-11} Carlton House Terrace.

Broadening inclusion by learning new ways to communicate

Our entire team completed British Sign Language (BSL) training with Enhance the UK. Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) is a fundamental aspect of inclusion, and we wanted to empower our team to confidently welcome deaf and hard-of-hearing visitors to the venue. The course deepened our understanding of Deaf culture and demonstrated how taking small steps to improve venue accessibility can make a transformational difference to someone’s experience, which was hugely enriching.

Partnering with specialist service suppliers for accessible events in London

We believe that everyone should feel not only accommodated but actively welcomed at {10-11} Carlton House Terrace. Accessibility requirements and provisions cover a broad spectrum, so we’ve partnered with several specialist organisations, to create an environment where all visitors can participate fully and confidently.

We recently welcomed TranslateAble to our approved suppliers list, as a dedicated event language partner. Providing features such as BSL interpretation, real-time captioning, and assistive technology, our work with TranslateAble ensures that language is never a barrier to active participation.

Through these and other services, from event childcare to innovative accessible technology solutions, we strive to make venue accessibility an ongoing collaboration, not an afterthought.

The journey continues…

We view accessibility as an evolving practice rather than a fixed achievement. Our venue accessibility audit highlighted the importance of implementing process improvements and an ongoing commitment to staff training. We were amazed to learn it takes an average of three to four years to become fluent in BSL! These and other valuable insights continue to shape our next steps, ensuring that accessibility remains a vital priority across every aspect of our spaces, services, ethos and culture.

Making venue accessibility and inclusion an everlasting focus

We fiercely believe true inclusion means creating an environment where every guest feels welcomed, respected and empowered to engage fully when attending events at our unique venue. Nobody should have to ask for their basic needs to be met and we’re on a mission to make sure accessibility and inclusion are woven into everything we do.

Choose {10-11} Carlton House Terrace for your accessible events in London

Our accessible event venue offers 10 versatile event spaces for conferences, meetings, launches, fashion shoots, weddings and private lunches and dinners, with capacities ranging from 10 up to 498 guests.

When choosing to host your event with us, you’ll be supported at every stage of your event planning to help make accessibility an integral part of the process. We provide comprehensive access information, including a dedicated online Access Guide and Event FAQs, and encourage guests to share access requirements at the point of booking.

To enquire about hosting your next event with us, please call our friendly team on 020 7969 5224 or fill in our enquiry form and we’ll be in touch.