Redefining venue accessibility at {10-11} Carlton House Terrace
February 2025
When it comes to sourcing an accessible event venue, there’s a broad spectrum of factors to consider, that go beyond just the physical environment. To ensure that every single guest feels equally included and valued, provisions must be in place to support anyone with specific mobility, medical, sight, hearing, sensory or cognitive needs.
At {10-11} Carlton House Terrace, we’re committed to championing accessibility and providing a seamless event experience for everyone we welcome to our central London venue. This blog will focus on the different aspects of accessibility requirements and the venue features we’ve implemented to remove any barriers to inclusion and participation for your guests.
Essential features of an accessible event venue
The following aspects should be fully explored when choosing a venue, to make your event more accessible:
Physical access – from arrival to seamless navigation throughout the venue, consider the entire guest journey from the perspective of a wheelchair user or people with mobility aids. Research nearby transport links, the availability of accessible parking or drop-off areas and ramp or lift access at entrance and exit points, so your guests know what to expect.
Checking capacities for a range of different event formats and allowing for additional space is important to accommodate wheelchairs and other mobility equipment and make sure everyone feels comfortable.
The public floors at {10-11} Carlton House Terrace are fully wheelchair accessible. Mobility is further aided by stone and wood flooring, or short-pile carpet featured throughout most of the building’s main routes. Our event spaces have been designed without fixed furniture or equipment, allowing them to be easily adapted to suit a range of different layouts and requirements. Our new purpose-built conference space has a stage with a built-in ramp for easier access.
Accessible toilets – our accessible toilets are located on the ground floor and gender-neutral accessible toilets can be found on the lower ground floor of the venue. These are all equipped with accessible sinks, hand dryers and paper towel dispensers. All accessible toilets at {10-11} Carlton House Terrace have emergency alarm cords that reach the floor level.
Sensory needs – when designing sensory-friendly events, the impact of the environment on all the senses should be carefully considered. From soft ambient lighting and avoiding fluorescent, flashing or strobe effects, to providing low-stimulation activities and quiet spaces – these factors will give respite to anyone feeling overwhelmed or overstimulated. Our new lower ground floor spaces feature acoustic panelling to reduce echo and reverberation. This improves the overall sound quality and enhances speech clarity, while helping to minimise unnecessary noise.
Our dedicated Quiet Room is a multi-use space for rest, relaxation and sensory regulation. It can also be used for prayer or privacy as required. It is wheelchair-accessible and has been designed to support a range of different guest needs.
Communication – accessible communication for all includes clear signage and wayfinding aids throughout the venue, unobstructed sightlines, and induction loop systems or other assistive listening devices. These features are readily available at {10-11} Carlton House Terrace, helping all attendees to participate and engage with your event programme. Braille is also included on all buttons in our lifts.
Additional requirements – assistance dogs are welcome in all areas of our venue and water will be provided.
Specific dietary needs are arranged with our in-house catering partner - Searcy’s. Our menus include many vegetarian and vegan options, and all allergies, dietary preferences and specific requirements can be catered for by prior arrangement.
Emergency procedures – in the event of an emergency when hosting an event with us, our dedicated Facilities team will oversee all safety procedures. We have on-site evacuation chairs and personal emergency evacuation plans (PEEPs) can be arranged with our reception staff on arrival at the venue.
New meeting rooms at {10-11} Carlton House Terrace designed with accessibility in mind
Following a major building redevelopment, our venue accessibility has been greatly enhanced. The brand-new adjoining Lecture Room, Wohl Gallery and SHAPE Room, located on the lower ground floor are fully accessible for all individuals. Physical barriers between our west and east entrances have been removed, creating a more open environment with clear sightlines for in-person events. For hybrid and digital events, integrated state-of-the-art technology makes every event accessible to global audiences. An induction loop system is in place across all three of these meeting rooms.
Specialist services for enhanced venue accessibility
As an accessible event venue, we understand that there are many other needs and provisions that may be required. We have partnered with approved specialist suppliers, offering a range of support services. These include translation, childcare, British Sign Language (BSL) and live captioning.
As the home of The British Academy, we have recently partnered with one of our approved suppliers – Safe and Sound Events – to provide on-site care for the children of Ukrainian academics attending conferences and events at {10-11} Carlton House Terrace.
"Working at 10-11 is always a pleasure. Communication before an event is prompt and efficient, ensuring everything runs smoothly. The venue is highly accessible, making unloading and setup effortless. The reception team is always welcoming and supportive. With first-class facilities and the latest equipment, everything is designed for ease. The technical support team is fantastic, making our job much simpler – even though we’re not running PowerPoint presentations, we do use music, movies, and sometimes a PlayStation," says Stephanie Wallis, Founder & Director – Safe and Sound Events.
Choose {10-11} Carlton House Terrace for accessible events in London
We are wholly committed to supporting the specific needs of every visitor to our unique venue. When booking an event with us, you can rest assured that we’re always looking at ways to improve venue accessibility. More information about the full range of provisions we currently have in place can be found here.
If you require further support when planning your event at {10-11} Carlton House Terrace, please contact our Venue Team, at info@10-11cht.co.uk or by calling 020 7969 5224. We will happily work with you to make any specific arrangements for your guests.
